917,73 

1 1  eig 

A  Guide  to  the  Illinois  Central  Rail- 
— road  Lands .  ...  offer  for  sale  over 
1,400,000  acres  ...         (1859) 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


A    GUIDE 


ILLINOIS    CENTRAL 


Tno  Illinois  Central  Railroad  Company  offer  Tor  sale  over  1,400, ()()() 
Acres   selected.   Prairie    and.  "Wood  Lands,  in  Tracts  of  l^oi-ty 
acres  and.  Tip'vvards,  sxiitalale  foi-  Farms,  on  loiif*  credits 
and  lo-w  prices,  sitxiated  on.  eacK  side  of  tlieir  Kail- 
road,  extending  throixgli  tlie  State  of  Illinois. 


CHICAGO: 

ILLINOIS    CENTRAL    R  A  I  L  R.O  A  D    OFFICE. 

1859. 


I 

i 


.0  n    UL  &  WISCONSIN  S.llNE 


EXPLANATION 

R  R.ia  Operation. 
........  R.H.  Progressing. 


IAf  fieaxy  sAaeftny  stairs  f/ie  boundary  of  tAc 
leaidf  of  IheJl/mois  Central  £<ul  Roa<T  Company  wilhrn 
'Ac  fiXTniff  limit  Tkr  light  skadmy  cAe  boundary 
Of  itM<-lmds  vr/Ain  fAr  fifteen  mi/e  limit. 

lKr  oftArTvwnstnpi  brarAetcd  rorres 
wit4  ifit  number  ofeach  Sfffional  flap 


A    GUIDE 


TO    TICK 


ILLINOIS    CENTRAL 


THE 


ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD  COMPANY, 


OFFER    FOR    SALK 


OVER  1,400,000  ACRES 


OF  SELECTED 


rairu  atxir 


In.    Traets  of  forty  acres  and  \ip-v\-ards,  suitable  for  Farms,  on  long 

credits  and  low  prices,  sitxiatod  on.  eaolx  side  of  tlieir  Kail- 

road,  extending    tl^i-ovigli    tlie  State  of  Illinois. 


CHICAGO: 

ILLINOIS    CENTRAL    RAILROAD    OFFICE 
1859. 


^ 


s 


NOTE. 

It  has  been  found  impossible  to  answer  the  numerous 
letters  that  are  daily  received,  in  reference  to  these  lands. 
To  such,  this  Pamphlet,  will  be  sent  in  reply  to  the  ques- 
tions asked. 

SECTIONAL  MAPS  of  the  Lands  of  the  Company,  showing 
the  precise  position  01  every  piece  of  land  in  the  State, 
owned  by  the  Company,  can  be  had  at  the  Land  De- 
partment, by  remitting  fifty  cents  in  postage  stamps. 
Plats  of  their  towns,  at  the  various  stations  throughout 
the  State,  can  also  be  seen. 

For  any  further  information,  apply  personally  or  by 
letter,  in  English,  French,  or  German,  to 

J.  W.  FOSTER,  COMMISSIONER, 

Chicago,  Illinois. 


U 


THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 


ITS  AREA  AND  EXTENT. 

THE  greatest  extent  of  Illinois  is  on  the  meridian  of 
Cairo,  being  378  miles.  Its  average  width  is  about  150 
miles  ; — the  greatest  width  being  210  miles,  near  the  lati- 
tude of  Urbana.  It  lies  between  latitude  37°  and  42J° 
North,  and  longitude  10°  5'  and  14°  West  of  "Washington. 

The  area  of  the  State  is  55,409  square  miles.  Some 
of  the  States  contain  a  larger  area,  but  that  area  is  made 
up  of  mountainous  or  sterile  tracts,  which  must  forev- 
er remain  sparsely  inhabited ;  whereas  Illinois  presents 
a  nearly  uniform  fertility  of  soil  throughout  its  entire 
extent.  To  compare  it  with  other  States,  Illinois  is 
nearly  as  large  as  the  six  New  England  States  put  to- 
gether, and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  its  agricultural  resources 
are  twice  as  great  as  the  whole  of  them.  It  has  nearly 
10,000  more  square  miles  than  the  State  of  New  York; 


> )  A*7 

r 


IB  larger  than  Pennsylvania  and  New  Jersey  together; 
and  is  nearly  eight  times  as  large  as  Massachusetts.  It 
is  larger  than  England  by  5,000  square  miles,  and  near- 
ly half  as  large  as  the  entire  kingdom  of  Great  Britain ; 
and  with  its  resources  as  well  developed,  could  sustain  a 
population  of  15,000,000.  It  is  more  than  twice  as  large 
as  Belgium  and  Holland  together,  and  nearly  one-fourth 
as  large  as  the  entire  Empire  of  Austria. 

The  grant  of  land  to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad 
Company  embraces  4,055  square  miles, — very  nearly  as 
large  an  area  as  that  comprised  within  the  State  of  Con- 
necticut, twice  as  large  as  Delaware,  more  than  half  as 
large  as  Massachusetts,  about  the  same  size  as  the  Elec- 
torate of  Hesse-Cassel,  three-fourths  as  large  as  the  Grand 
Duchy  of  Baden,  and  half  as  large  as  the  Grand  Duchy 
of  Tuscany. 

Illinois  must  always  occupy  a  commanding  position  in 
the  union  of  States,  forming  as  she  does  the  water-shed 
between  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  and  that  of  the  St. 
Lawrence.  In  the  intercourse  and  traffic,  thus  far  but 
imperfectly  developed,  between  these  two  great  valleys,  THE 
ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD  must  be  regarded  as  a  most 
important  part  of  the  great  thoroughfare  which  is  now 
opened  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  by  which  Chicago  is  made 
as  accessible  to  New  Orleans  and  Mobile,  as  she  is  to 
Boston,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia. 

COMMERCIAL  FACILITIES. 

The  means  of  intercommunication  provided  by  nature 
are  unsurpassed.  The  State  is  bounded  on  the  West  and 
South  by  two  great  navigable  rivers,  and  for  fifty  miles  on 
the  Northeast  by  Lake  Michigan ;  while  the  interior  is 
penetrated  for  more  than  two  hundred  miles  by  the  Illi- 
nois river,  whose  waters  are  connected  with  the  lake  by 
the  Illinois  and  Michigan  Canal.  About  two-thirds  of 
the  boundaries  of  the  State  is  made  up  of  navigable  riv- 
ers, amounting  to  about  1,000  miles  in  length. 


.The  artificial  communications  are  not  less  complete. 
"Within  less  than  ten  years,  there  have  been  constructed 
2,682  miles  of  railway,  at  a  cost  of  $96,284,445,  by  which, 
with  one  or  two  exceptions,  every  county  seat  is  brought 
within  fifteen  miles  of  some  great  thoroughfare.  The 
population  has  increased  from  477,000  in  1840,  to  855,384 
in  1850,  to  1,300,251  in  1855,  and  to  probably  1,700,000 
in  1859.  Illinois  is  now  the  fourth  State  in  the  Union  in 
numerical  force. 

FACE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

The  profile  of  the  country,  adjacent  to  THE  ILLINOIS  CEN- 
TRAL RAILKOAD,  does  not  present  one  uniform  dead  level, 
but  a  succession  of  gentle  undulations  and  depressions 
which  have  been  not  inaptly  compared  to  the  swells  of 
the  ocean.  The  culminating  points,  which  are  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  State,  attain  an  elevation  of  about 
800  feet  above  the  Ohio  river  at  Cairo,  and  about  400  feet 
above  the  level  of  Lake  Michigan.  The  valleys  are  val- 
leys of  denudation,  cutting  through  the  superficial  depos- 
its, and  occasionally  exposing  the  rocky  strata  beneath  ; 
while  from  the  main  channels  start  numerous  ravines,  like 
the  intervals  between  the  fingers  when  the  hand  is  ex- 
tended. These  are  everywhere  bordered  with  timber,  and 
occasional  isolated  clumps  are  seen,  known  in  the  lan- 
guage of  the  country  as  groves;  while  the  plains  are 
clothed  with  a  luxuriant  growth  of  prairie  grass.  The 
Chicago  branch,  250  miles  in  length,  runs  through  the 
Grand  Prairie,  which,  with  the  exception  of  occasional 
groves,  presents  an  almost  interminable  plain,  of  which 
the  natural  product  is  prairie-grass.  Here  the  similitude 
of  the  ocean  becomes  more  striking.  The  timber  belts 
resemble  wooded  shores,  while  the  clumps  may  be  likened 
to  islands  rising  up  from  a  wide  expanse  of  waving  green. 

The  surface  is  covered  with  superficial  materials  con- 
sisting of  yellow  loam,  blue  clay,  the  latter  always  subor- 
dinate, sand  and  pebbles,  rudely  stratified,  with  occasional 


6 

boulders  of  granite,  upon  which  reposes  a  rich  vegetable 
mould  from  eighteen  inches  to  two  feet  thick,  constitut- 
ing an  almost  inexhaustible  supply  of  nutriment  for  crops, 
for  all  time. 

The  swales,  or  sloughs  (provincially  slues),  as  well  as 
the  more  level  portions  of  the  prairie,  contain  a  dark 
sandy  soil,  intermixed  with  much  organic  matter  ;  while 
along  the  streams  and  ravines  the  soil  is  a  light  yellow 
loam.  These  distinctive  differences  are  well  understood 
by  every  settler,  and  the  term  "  prairie  soil  "  to  him  con- 
veys a  precise  meaning.  It  is  a  popular  but  mistaken 
belief  that  this  region  was  once  densely,  covered  with 
trees,  and  that  their  disappearance  is  to  be  ascribed  to  the 
annual  fires  that  swept  over  it,  long  before  it  became 
known  to  the  whites,  consuming  every  form  of  vegeta- 
tion, except  where  it  was  protected  by  the  streams  and 
ravines.  There  is  no  evidence  that,  in  the  previous  phys- 
ical history  of  this  region,  the  arborescent  vegetation  was 
more  extended  than  it  is  now.  The  prairies  result  from 
the  character  of  the  soil,  and  their  origin  is  no  more  of  a 
mystery  than  that  of  the  steppes  of  Northern  Asia,  the 
pampas  of  Brazil,  or  the  llanos  of  Venezuela.  In  the 
rich  black  mould  of  the  plains  the  prairie-grass  finds  its 
appropriate  nourishment  to  the  exclusion  of  other  forms 
of  vegetation  ;  but  this  in  its  turn  is  supplanted  by  many 
of  the  tame  grasses.  On  the  other  hand,  the  yellow  soil 
along  the  ravines  and  alluvial  bottoms  gives  sustenance  to 
a  growth  of  trees,  the  commonest  of  which  are  burr,  jack 
and  white  oak,  hickory,  black  walnut,  linden,  poplar,  and 
honey  locust.  As  we  proceed  south,  to  the  region  below 
the  Terre  Haute  and  Alton  Railroad,  the  groves  begin 
to  encroach  upon  the  prairies  until  finally  the  whole  re- 
gion becomes  densely  wooded.  Below  Carbondale,  the 
country  is  covered  with  a  primeval  forest,  except  where 
the  axe  of  the  settler  has  leveled  it  to  the  ground. 

The  changes  in  the  soil  are  not  less  marked.  Passing 
from  the  rich  black  mould  of  Urbana,  as  we  approach 


Effingham,  the  soil  begins  to  assume  a  greyish,  tint,  and 
thence  by  imperceptible  gradations,  passes  into  a  light 
yellow  or  reddish  loam.  These  soils  produce  the  finest 
varieties  of  winter  wheat,  and  those  scourges  of  other 
regions — the  weevil  and  the  blight — are  comparatively 
unknown. 

CLASSIFICATION   OF    SOILS. 

There  are  well-marked  differences  in  the  soils  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  Lands. 

1°.  Black  Prairie  Soil, — consisting  of  a  dark-colored, 
friable  mould,  often  two  feet  deep,  and  containing  a  large 
amount  of  organic  matter,  intermixed  with  potash  derived 
from  the  annual  burnings  of  the  prairie-grass,  from  time 
immemorial.  The  substratum  is  a  mixture  of  clay  and 
gravel,  well  calculated  to  retain  moisture;  but  not  so  much 
so  as  to  cause  it  to  bake  when  exposed  to  the  sun,  or  to 
render  the  surface  st>il  cold  and  wet.  The  prairie  soil 
makes  first-class  corn  lands,  and  is  so  rich  in  organic  mat- 
ter that  it  may  be  cropped  for  years  without  showing 
any  signs  of  exhaustion.  Spring  wheat,  barley,  oats,  po- 
tatoes, and  the  domestic  grasses,  here  find  appropriate  food. 
The  prairies  afford  admirable  grazing  farms,  and  there  are 
farmers  who  fatten  yearly  more  than  a  thousand  head  of 
cattle. 

The  sloughs,  when  drained  and  sowed  with  grasses,  will 
make  the  finest  meadow  lands  known,  far  surpassing  the 
uplands  in  fertility. 

This  kind  of  soil  largely  predominates  on  the  Chicago 
Branch,  as  well  as  on  the  Main  Line,  in  the  central  portion 
of  the  State. 

2°.  Grey  Prairie  Soil. — Between  Nioga  and  Effingham 
on  the  Branch,  and  below  Pana,  on  the  Main  Line,  we 
notice  a  change  in  the  soil,  the  black  mould  giving  place 
to  a  grey  soil,  which,  though  not  so  prolific  in  Indian  corn, 
produces  excellent  crops  of  winter  wheat,  and  is  a  supe- 
rior fruit-growing  region.  ,The  lines  between  the  two 


8 

classes  of  soil  are  not  well  marked,  but  there  is  a  gradual 
blending  along  the  borders.  The  prairies  become  smaller 
in  extent,  and  the  groves  more  numerous.  This  soil  is 
susceptible  of  a  fine  mechanical  division,  and  by  many  is 
esteemed  quite  as  highly  as  the  black  mould  of  the  more 
northerly  prairies. 

3°.  Wood  Soil. — This  soil,  which  predominates  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  State,  consists  of  a  fine  yellowish,  or  red- 
dish loam,  or  a  mixture  of  sand  and  clay,  in  about  the  propor- 
tions to  form  brick,  and  is  sufficiently  porous  to  enable  the 
water  to  leach  through,  and  the  rootlets  of  trees  to  penetrate 
it.  It  does  not  bake  when  exposed  to  the  heats  of  summer, 
or  form  a  water-bearing  stratum  during  the  rains  of  spring 
and  fall.  It  is  not  unusual  to  find  this  soil  covered  with  ha- 
zel brush,  which  is  the  precursor  of  the  hickory,  gum,  oak, 
linden,  etc.,  etc.  This  soil  is  well  adapted  to  the  culture 
of  winter,  or  flint  wheat,  and  the  choicest  varieties  are  pro- 
duced. The  harvest  comes  off  as  early  as  the  tenth  of  June, 
and  by  July  or  August,  it  is  ready  for  market.  The  mar. 
ket  value  of  this  wheat  is  12  to  15  cents  above  the  ordinary 
varieties,  and  it  is  sought  for  by  millers  from  £Tew  York, 
St.  Louis  and  Ohio.  It  was  not  until  the  opening  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad  that  wheat  was  cultivated  to  any 
considerable  extent;  it  now  forms  the  great  staple  of  the 
region,  and  has  been  the  means  of  conferring  upon  the 
farmer,  uncounted  wealth.  Their  experience  has  been  that 
winter-wheat  is  a  sure  and  remunerative  crop.  Samples  of 
white  winter-wheat  from  the  counties  of  Union,  Perry  and 
Pulaski  are  now  in  the  Land  Department.  The  berry  is 
large  and  plump,  and  weighs  upwards  of  60  Ibs.  to  the 
bushel,  and  the  yield  was  more  than  40  bushels  to  the  acre. 

This  soil  is  the  natural  habitat  for  the  apple,  peach,  pear, 
plum  and  grape,  and  the  culture  of  these  fruits  is  rapidly 
extending.  ISTear  Makanda,  Jonesboro',  and  Cobden,  there 
are  thousands  of  acres  devoted  to  the  cultivation  of  peaches- 
The  apples  produced  are  large,  fair  and  plump ;  and  look 
very  differently  from  their  eastern  relations. 


Mr.  C.  T.  Chase,  a  practical  horticulturalist,  in  a  work* 
recently  published,  thus  speaks  of  this  region: 

"Much  of  the  soil  of  Southern  Illinois  is  also  admirably  adapted  to 
trait.  Such  is  the  texture  in  many  locations  that  drainage  is  of  less 
importance  than  in  the  North.  The  heavily  timbered  lands  of  that 
section,  including  a  series  of  elevated  ridges  extending  entirely  across 
the  State,  and  into  the  adjoining  States,  combine  essential  qualifications 
of  soil,  climate,  elevation  and  exposure,  that  fit  them  in  an  eminent 
degree  for  successful  fruit-culture.  In  these  regions,  the  highest  knobs 
are  at  present  preferred.  As  the  timber  is  cleared  away,  the  frost 
lines  will  probably  follow  down  the  hill-sides,  and  many  fine  situations 
for  fruit  will  be  developed  which  are  now  unfit.  The  indications  point 
to  a  time,  at  no  distant  period,  when  by  judicious  culture,  Southern 
Illinois  and  a  part  of  Missouri  will  become  the  fruit-garden  of  the  West." 

4°.  Alluvial  Soil. — The  immediate  valley  of  the  Missis- 
sippi consists  of  a  wide  belt  of  level  land,  occasionally 
subject  to  overflow,  known  as  "The  American  Bottom." 
The  soil  is  a  highly  comminuted  loam,  rich  in  organic 
matter,  the  result  of  successive  depositions  of  the  river. 
It  has  all  of  the  fertility  of  that  of  the  Nile,  and  is  well 
adapted  to  the  growth  of  Indian  corn,  broom  corn,  sor- 
ghum, tobacco,  hemp,  and  all  those  crops  which  are  sup- 
posed to  exhaust  its  fertility.  Cotton  was  formerly  grown 
here,  and  as  far  north  even,  as  Sangamon  county,  in  suffi- 
cient quantities  for  all  domestic  purposes ;  and  there  is  no 
apparent  reason  why  its  culture  might  not  be  successfully 
resumed. 

COMPOSITION  OF  SOILS. 

In  many  parts  of  the  world,  it  is  found  necessary  to  im- 
prove the  soil  by  mixing  and  combining  different  earths  : 
and  also,  by  adding  to  the  organic  matter.  But  Nature, 
so  far  as  relates  to  the  soils  of  Illinois,  has  kindly  per- 
formed these  offices  for  man.  Experience  has  shown  that 
a  soil,  composed  of  one  earth  alone,  whether  it  be  sand, 
clay,  or  lime,  is  unproductive  ;  but  that  the  best  soil  con- 
sists of  a  due  admixture  of  all  these  earths. 

In  examining  the  mechanical  texture  of  the  soils  of  Illi- 
nois, we  find  that  the  proportion  of  clay  varies  from  18  to 

*The  Prairie  Fruit  Culturalist. 


64  per-cent.;  of  sand,  from  25  to  75  per-cent.;  and  of  lime, 
from  1.3  to  3.3  per-cent. ;  but  what  is  most  note-worthy 
with  regard  to  them,  is  the  remarkably  fine  state  of  subdi- 
vision in  the  particles.  The  soil,  when  dried  and  crushed, 
crumbles  into  an  almost  impalpable  powder,  and  hence  is 
in  the  best  condition  to  afford  nutriment  to  plants. 

Most  soils,  too,  require  the  addition  of  organized  matter, 
or  manures,  to  preserve  their  fertility.  In  England,  and 
in  the  Atlantic  States,  this  annual  application  of  manures 
often  costs  more  per  acre,  than  the  fee  of  the  Illinois  lands. 
The  mechanical  analysis  of  these  soils  shows  that  there  is 
present  from  5  to  10  per-cent.  of  orgarfic  matter ;  while 
the  chemical  analysis  indicates  from  .18  to  .33  per-cent. 
of  nitrogen.  It  would  take  a  half  century  of  cropping 
to  exhaust  this  accumulation  of  organic  matter. 

Mr.  James  Caird,  M.  P.,  the  Times  Commissioner  of 
Agriculture,  and  the  highest  agricultural  authority  in 
England,  in  the  fall  of  1858,  passed  over  the  lands  adjacent 
to  the  Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  after  speaking  of 
the  inexhaustible  fertility  of  the  soil,  he  proceeds  to  add : 

"Its  chemical  composition  has  been  ascertained  for  me  by  Professor 
Voelcker,  consulting  chemist  to  the  Royal  Agricultural  Society  of 
England,  to  whom  I  sent  four  samples  of  prairie  soil  for  analysis, 
brought  by  me  from  different  and  distant  points  of  the  lands  belonging 
to  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  Company.  They  bear  out  completely 
the  high  character  for  fertility  which  practice  and  experience  had 
already  proved  these  soils  to  possess.  The  most  noticeable  feature  in 
the  analysis,  as  it  appears  to  me,  is  the  very  large  quantity  of  nitro- 
gen which  each  of  these  soils  contains,  nearly  twice  as  much  as  the 
most  fertile  soils  of  Britain.  In  each  case,  taking  the  soil  at  an  ave- 
rage depth  of  ten  inches,  an  acre  of  these  prairies  will  contain  upwards 
of  three  tons  of  nitrogen,  and  as  a  heavy  crop  of  wheat  with  its  straw 
contains  about  fifty-two  pounds  of  nitrogen,  there  is  thus  a  natural 
store  of  ammonia  in  this  soil  sufficient  for  more  than  a  hundred  wheat 
crops.  In  Dr.  Voelcker 's  words,  '  it  is  the  large  amount  of  nitrogen, 
and  the  beautiful  state  of  division,  that  impart  a  peculiar  character 
to  these  soils,  and  distinguish  them  so  favorably.'  They  are  soils  upon 
which  flax,  I  imagine,  could  be  grown  in  perfection,  supposing  the  cli- 
mate to  be  otherwise  favorable.  /  have  never  before  analyzed  soils 
which  contained  so  much  nitrogen,  nor  do  I  Jind  any  record  of  soils 
richer  in  nitrogen  than  these."— Prairie  Farming,  pp.  77,  78. 
Lond.  Ed. 


11 


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V. 


AEEA  OF  CULTIVABLE  LAND. 

It  is  supposed  by  many,  who  have  not  investigated  the 
climatology  of  the  West,  that  the  rich  prairies,  like  those 
of  Illinois,  continue  to  the  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
The  really  desirable  lands  lie  east  of  longitude  95°,  and 
embrace  Illinois,  the  Eastern  and  Southern  portions  of 
Iowa,  the  Eastern  portion  of  Kansas,  and  Southern  Minne- 
sota and  Southern  Wisconsin.  They  have  already  passed 
out  of  the  possession  of  the  General  Government.  After 
having  crossed  the  Missouri  river,  we  enter  upon  a  series 
of  plains,  whose  prevailing  vegetation  is  the  artemisia  and 
the  buffalo  grass — types  characteristic  of  an  arid  climate. 
Almost  the  only  form  of  arborescent  vegetation  is  the 
cotton-wood,  which  is  restricted  to  the  immediate  val- 
leys of  the  streams.  From  the  conditions  of  climate, 
this  vast  region,  embracing  at  least  25°  of  longitude,  must 
forever  remain  sparsely  inhabited. 

"  The  most  marked  single  feature  "  (says  Blodgett,  in  his  Climatol- 
ogy of  the  United  States,  p.  155)  "  is  the  absence  of  atmospheric 
moisture,  or  the  low  measure  of  humidity,  when  rain  is  not  absolutely 
falling.  This  arid  character  begins  to  be  felt  at  the  95th  meridian, 
and  at  the  98th  or  100th,  it  causes  an  abrupt  contrast  with  the  coun- 
try east." 

Starting  from  the  95th  degree,  the  rains  diminish  rapidly 
as  we  proceed  westward,  until,  before  reaching  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  they  disappear  almost  altogether.  This  dry- 
ness  of  the  atmosphere  gives  rise  to  a  variety  of  climatic 
conditions,  which  are  unobserved  to  the  eastward  :  abrupt 
transitions  in  the  temperature,  the  thermometer  rising  to 
75°  or  80°  at  mid-day,  and  falling  below  the  freezing 
point  at  night,  or  before  sunrise.  These  sudden  changes 
are  fatal  to  the  growth  of  all  those  plants,  of  which  Indian 
corn  is  the  type. 

If  we  consult  the  rain-charts,  which  have  been  construct- 
ed from  the  observations  of  the  officers  at  the  various 
military  posts,  and  from  those  of  scientific  explorers,  we 


13 

shall  find  that,  while  the  mean  distribution  of  rain  for  the 
year  in  Illinois  is  42  inches  in  the  northern,  and  45  inches 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  State,  the  gradations,  as  we 
proceed  west,  are  rapid  to  35,  30,  25,  20,  15  and  10.  The 
belt  where  the  annual  fall  is  intermediate  between  40  and 
30  inches,  is  less  than  50  miles  wide.  It  may  be  safely 
assumed  that,  for  successful  agriculture,  the  annual  fall 
of  rain  should  amount  to  35  inches,  and  inside  of  this  limit 
is  comprised  the  great  grain-growing  region  of  the  United 
States.  If  we  trace  this  line  upon  the  map,  we  shall  find 
that  it  is  subject  to  abrupt  curvatures.  Starting  at  Chi- 
cago, it  bears  northwesterly  to  Fort  Winnebago,  then 
sweeps  round  and  crosses  the  Mississippi,  near  the  north 
boundary  of  Iowa,  then  trends  southwesterly,  a  hundred 
miles  east  of  Fort  Des  Moines  and  Fort  Leavenworth,  and 
thence  is  protracted  into  Texas. 

We  thus  see  that  there  are  physical  conditions  which 
interpose  an  effectual  barrier  to  the  progress  of  settlement 
to  the  westward.  Emigration  has  already  reached  the  line 
where  it  must  pause.  It  needs  no  prophetic  vision  to 
predict  the  time,  and  that  not  far  distant,  when  every  rood 
of  desirable  land  in  Illinois  will  be  appropriated  and  im- 
proved. 

THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 
This  is  the  longest  continuous  line  of  road,  under  the 
control  of  a  single  corporation,  in  the  United  States, — the 
entire  length  being  706  miles.  It  traverses  the  whole 
State,  from  north  to  south,  intersecting,  in  its  course, 
every  railway  in  the  State.  It  starts  from  Cairo,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  and  pursues  a 
course  nearly  north  111  miles  to  Centralia ;  at  a  point 
four  miles  north,  the  road  branches — the  one  pursuing  a 
northeasterly  course  to  Chicago,  250  miles  distant;  while 
the  other  pursues  a  northerly  course  to  Mendota,  and 
thence  bears  northwesterly  to  Galena  and  Dunleith  on  the 
Mississippi  river,  opposite  Dubuque  : — the  distance  be- 


14 

tween  the  northern  and  southern  terminus  being  454 
miles. 

This  road  traverses  nearly  6°  of  latitude  (from  37°  N.  to 
42|°  IS".),  embracing  the  most  favored  portion  of  the 
northern  temperate  zone.  Above  this  belt,  the  season  is 
not  long  enough  to  raise  the  most  profitable  varieties  of 
corn  ;  below  it,  the  climate  is  warm  enough  to  grow  cot- 
ton. Thus  it  is  midway  between  the  biting  frosts  of  the 
North  and  the  sultry  heats  of  the  South.  The  moisture  is 
so  equally  diffused,  that,  however  unpropitious  the  season, 
there  is  always  a  surplus  of  the  great  staples  grown.  The 
variation  of  climate  between  Galena  and  Cairo  is  as  great 
as  between  Boston  and  Richmond.  Migration  usually 
follows  lines  of  latitude.  Illinois  will,  therefore,  con- 
tinue to  receive  the  tide  of  population  from  the  over- 
crowded districts  of  the  Old  and  New  World,  until  her 
immense  capacity  for  occupation  and  expansion  is  fully 
tested. 

The  main  line  of  the  road  has  been  in  operation  four 
years,  and  the  branches  less  than  three.  There  is  already 
a  population  of  500,000  adjacent  thereto,  and  at  intervals 
of  not  greater  than  ten  miles,  there  are  flourishing  vil- 
lages, some  of  which  contain  from  4,000  to  15  000  inhabi- 


tants. Churches  have  been  planted,  and  school  districts 
organized,  so  that  the  benefits  of  religious  and  intellectual 
culture  are  provided  for  all. 


15 

Table  (A),  appended  to  this  Pamphlet,  will  exhibit  at  a 
glance  the  progress  of  settlement  since  the  opening  of 
this  line. 

The  road  is  built  in  a  substantial  manner,  and  is  equipped 
with  superior  locomotives  and  cars.  Two  passenger  trains 
pass  over  the  line  each  way  daily,  while  the  freight  trains 
have  a  passenger  car  attached.  Commodious  passenger 
and  freight  houses  have  been  erected  at  nearly  every  sta- 
tion, and  there  is  a  telegraphic  line  coterminous  with  the 
road,  by  which  the  farmer  is  daily  advised  of  the  state  of 
the  markets. 

ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD  LANDS. 

These  lands  were  granted  by  the  General  Government 
to  the  State,  in  aid  of  the  construction  of  a  railroad  from 
Chicago  to  Cairo,  and  from  Cairo  to  Dunleith ;  and  by 
the  State  were  transferred  to  the  Central  Railroad  Com- 
pany upon  certain  conditions,  which  have  been  fully  com- 
plied with.  The  grant  comprised  every  alternate  section* 
of  even  numbers,  for  six  sections  in  width  on  each  side  of 
the  road  and  branches,  and  in  case  of  deficiency,  by  rea- 
son of  sale  or  preemption,  the  agent  of  the  State  was 


*NOTE. — To  those  who  are  unacquainted  with  the  system  of  the  Gov- 
ernment surveys  of  the  public  lands,  it  would  be  well  to  state  that  the 
territory  is  laid  out  by  rectilinear  lines,  into  towns,  ranges,  and  sec- 
tions, and  these  sections  are  subdivided  into  eighths.  A  township  em- 
braces thirty-six  sections,  and  is  six  miles  square,  or  includes  thirty-six 
square  miles.  A  section  is  one  mile  square,  640  acres,  and  is  subdi- 
vided into  halves,  320  acres;  quarters,  160  acres;  and  eighths,  40 
acres,  which  is  the  lowest  Grovernment  subdivision.  The  ranges  are 
laid  off  East  and  West  from  a  principal  meridian,  running  due  North 
and  South,  and  the  townships  are  laid  off  North  and  South  from  a 
base  line  running  due  East  and  West.  In  a  timber-region,  the  section 
corners  are  blazed  on  the  trees  ;  but  in  a  prairie-region,  they  are  indi- 
cated by  mounds  containing  charcoal,  into  which  a  stake  is  driven. 
Thus,  ordinarily,  the  bounds  of  every  forty-acre  tract  are  well  defined. 
In  numbering  sections,  you  commence  in  the  northeast  corner  of  a 
township,  and  proceed  from  right  to  left,  along  the  first  tier,  and  from 
left  to  right  through  the  second  tier,  and  so  on. 


16 

authorized  to  select  an  equal  amount  from  alternate  sec- 
tions of  Government  land,  within  fifteen  miles  of  the  road. 

The  grant  thus  bestowed  was  2,595,000  acres. 

Of  which  there  have  been  apppropri- 

ated  to  secure  the  payment  of  $17,- 

000,000  of  Construction  bonds,     2,000,000  acres. 
To  secure  the  payment   of  interest 

on  said  bonds,  250,000  acres. 

To  secure  the  payment  of  $3,000,000 

of  Free-land  bonds,  -        -    345,000  acres. 


2,595,000  acres. 

Hence,  the  Company's  lands  are  respectively  designated 
as  CONSTRUCTION,  FREE-LANDS,  and  INTEREST  LANDS. 

The  Indenture  with  the  Trustees  prescribes  that  there 
shall  be  set  apart, — 

50,000  at  $20  per  acre,  until  there  be  realized  $1,000,000. 

350,000  at    15        "  "  "  5,200,000. 

1,300,000  at      8        "  "  "          10,400,000. 

300,000  at      5        "  "  "  1,500,000. 

The  Company  have  already  sold  about  1,200,000  acres 
of  land,  comprised  in  this  grant,  for  the  sum  of  $15,600,- 
000 ;  this  is  less  than  one-half  of  the  grant,  and  the  unsold 
portion  will  undoubtedly  bring  a  sum  equal  to  that  of 
the  portion  sold. 

PRICES  AND  TERMS  OF  PAYMENT. 

These  vary  according  to  location,  quality,  distance  from 
stations,  villages,  &c.,  &c. 

Lands  immediately  "adjoining  town  sites,  or  in  proximity 
to  the  road,  are,  of  course,  held  at  higher  prices,  and  on 
somewhat  shorter  credits;  but  the  best  farming  lands,  in  the 
most  desirable  localities,  can  be  purchased  at  from  $6  to 
$25  per  acre. 

The  terms  of  sale  for  the  bulk  jf  these  lands  will  be  one 
year's  interest  in  advance,  at  six  per  cent,  per  annum ;  and 
six  interest  notes  at  six  per  cent,  payable  respectively  in 


17 

one,  two,  three,  four,  five,  and  six  years  from  date  of  sale ; 
and  four  notes  for  principal,  payable  in  four,  five,  six,  and 
seven  years  from  date  of  sale;  the  contract  stipulating 
that  one-tenth  of  the  tract  purchased  shall  he  fenced  and 
cultivated,  each  and  every  year,  for  five  years  from  the  date 
of  sale,  so  that  at  the  end  of  five  years,  one-half  shall  be 
fenced  and  under  cultivation. 

Twenty  per  cent,  will  be  deducted  from  the  valuation  for 
cash,  except  the  same  should  be  at  six  dollars  per  acre, 
when  the  cash  price  will  be  five  dollars  per  acre. 

A  purchaser's  account  would  stand  as  follows,  supposing 
he  contracted  for  eighty  acres  of  land  at  $10  per  acre,  on 
March  1,  1859. 

TOTALS. 

March  1,  1859,  Cash  Payment,  1  year's  interest  in  advance, 

at  6  per  cent.  -     $  48  00 

PRINCIPAL  NOTES.         INTEREST   NOTES. 

1860,  -  $48  00  -  48  00 

1861,  -  -  -  -  48  00  -  -  48  00 

1862,  -  -  48  00  -  48  00 

1863,  -  $200  00    -  -  36  00  -  -  236  00 

1864,  -  200  00    -  -  24  00  -  -  224  00 

1865,  -  200  00    -  -  12  00  -  -  212  00 

1866,  -  200  00    -  -  200  00 

Upon  these  terms  about  1,100,000  acres  are  offered  for 
sale. 

It  is  believed  that  the  low  price  and  long  credit  charged 
for  these  lands  will  enable  a  man  of  small  capital,  and 
with  due  industry,  in  ordinary  seasons,  to  meet  the  pay- 
ments as  they  become  due,  from  the  products  of  the  soil ; 
while  the  rapid  settlement  and  development  of  the  country 
will  greatly  enhance  their  value. 

Certain  tracts  immediately  adjoining  stations,  or  for 
other  causes  specially  valuable,  are  offered  upon  "  Canal 
Terms ; " — the  terms  are : 

The  payment  of  one-quarter  cash,  and  interest  on  the 
balance  for  one  year  in  advance,  at  six  per  cent,  per  an- 
num, and  three  notes  for  the  principal  payable  in  one, 


18 

two,  and  three  years  from  the  date  of  the  agreement,  with 
interest  at  six  per  cent,  per  annum  in  advance,  added  to 
the  first  and  second. 

Ten  per  cent,  will  be  deducted  from  the  valuation  for 
full  cash  payment. 

A  purchaser's  account  would  stand  as  follows,  suppos- 
ing he  contracted  for  80  acres  of  land  at  $10  per  acre,  on 
March  1st,  1859 : 

March  1,  1859,  Cash  Payment,  i  principal  $200,  and  interest 

on  balance,  1  year  at  6  per  cent.,  §36,    $236  00 

1860,  "  «  "  "  224  00 

1861,  "  "  "  "  212  00 

1862,  Cash  Payment,  i  principal,  -   200  00 

Upon  these  terms  about  85,000  acres  are  offered  for 
sale,  no  improvement  clause  being  inserted  in  the  con- 
tracts. 

Town  Lots,  when  the  amount  of  sale  is  fifty  dol- 
lars, or  less,  will  be  sold  for  one-half  cash,  and  interest 
on  the  balance  for  one  year  in  advance,  at  six  per  cent, 
per  annum;  the  other  one-half  of  principal  payable  in 
one  year  from  the  date  of  agreement.  When  the  amount 
of  sale  is  more  than  fifty  dollars,  the  terms  of  sale  will  be 
one-third  cash,  and  interest  on  the  balance  for  one  year  in 
advance  at  six  per  cent,  per  annum ;  the  remainder  of  the 
principal  beiiig  payable  in  one  and  two  years,  with  inter- 
est for  one  year  in  advance  at  six  per  cent,  added  to  the 
first  note. 

Ten  per  cent,  will  be  deducted  from  the  valuation  for 
full  cash  payment. 

A  deduction  in  the  price  of  lots  will  be  made  to  par- 
ties purchasing  with  an  agreement  to  improve  within  six 
months  from  date  of  sale. 

The  Company  own  lots  at  most  of  the  villages  along 
their  line.  These  villages  are  rapidly  increasing  in  popu- 
lation, and  offer  good  inducements  to  persons  engaged  in 
mercantile  or  professional  pursuits,  to  settle  therein.  The 
Company  have  also  valuable  tracts  of  iron,  coal,  and  tim- 
ber-lands for  sale. 


19 


MINERAL  RESOURCES. 


Although  the  greater 
portion  of  the  country 
contiguous  to  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  consists 
of  rich  undulating  prai- 
rie, yet  at  various  points 
the  streams  have  cut 
through  the  superficial 
deposits,  and  laid  bare 
the  subjacent  rocks,  re- 
vealing and  rendering  ac- 
cessible those  materials, 
so  useful  to  our  comforts 
and  conveniences. 

The  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  passes  over  all  of  those  systems  of  rock,  which 
are  included  between  the  Lower  Silurian  and  the  Upper 
Carboniferous.  For  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  distance, 
the  underlying  rocks  consist  of  shales,  sandstones,  and 
limestones,  belonging  to  the  Coal-Measures.  Whether 
they  constitute  an  unbroken  assemblage  of  strata,  dipping 
towards  a  common  centre,  or,  like  the  Appalachian  coal- 
field, are  arranged  in  a  series  of  corrugations,  is  a  problem 
yet  to  be  solved. 

Coal. — This  important  combustible  will  be  found  so 
widely  distributed  throughout  the  prairie  region  of  Illinois, 
that  the  absence  of  densely  wooded  tracts  will  subject  the 
settler  to  no  serious  inconvenience.  The  Illinois  Central 
Railroad  Company,  with  an  ample  supply  of  wood  at  their 
command,  at  a  cost  not  exceeding  $2.50  per  cord,  are  sub- 
stituting, as  a  matter  of  economy,  and  convenience,  coal- 
burning,  in  place  of  wood-burning,  locomotives  on  their 
road,  and  other  railroad  companies  are  following  their  ex- 
ample. 
There  are  three  points  from  which  the  settlers  can  for 


20 

all  time  derive  their  supplies  of  fossil  fuel,  at  an  incon- 
siderable expense.  At  Duquoin,  on  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad,  76  miles  above  Cairo,  there  is  a  seam  of  coal 
nearly  7  feet  in  thickness,  which  is  worked  by  a  shaft  70 
feet  deep.  It  possesses  all  of  the  qualities  of  a  first  class 
coal — freedom  from  sulphur,  cleanliness  when  employed 
as  a  domestic  fuel,  and  firmness  to  bear  transportation. 

At  Danville,  or  rather  Bryant,  36  miles  east  of  Tolono, 
on  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  a  seam  6  feet  thick  is 
worked  by  a  drift.  It  is  a  strong  and  valuable  coal,  and 
yields  more  than  one-half  of  its  weight  in  fixed  carbon. 
The  greater  portion  of  the  product  of  this  mine  is  dis- 
tributed over  the  Chicago  branch. 

At  La  Salle,  on  the  Main  line,  there  are  three  seams  of 
coal,  which  average  about  four  feet  each  in  thickness,  and 
all  of  which  are  embraced  in  a  vertical  range  of  about 
225  feet.  The  workings  here  are  more  extensive  than  at 
any  other  point.  The  coal  is  of  a  fair  quality,  and  besides 
the  local  consumption,  some  of  it  is  sent  to  Dunleith  and 
Chicago. 

By  inspecting  the  map  it  will  be  seen  that,  if  from 
these  three  centres  of  supply  we  inscribe  circles,  with 
radii  150  miles  in  length,  it  will  sweep  every  station  on 
the  line  of  the  railroad.  The  cost  of  coal  per  ton,  at  the 
mouth  of  the  pit  is  from  $1  25  to  $1  50  per  ton ;  and  the 
cost  of  transportation  from  1  cent  to  If  cents  per  ton  per 
mile ;  consequently,  coal  can  be  sold  at  any  station  on  the 
line  at  say  $4  00  per  ton.  Twelve  bushels,  or  one-half 
a  ton  of  coal,  are  equivalent  to  a  cord  of  wood.  The  cost 
of  cutting  a  cord  of  wood  four  feet  in  length  is  about 
$1  00,  and  another  dollar  must  be  expended  in  cutting  it 
stove  length.  It  is  therefore  as  cheap  to  buy  coal  as  to  cut 
wood  for  fuel,  from  one's  own  premises.  The  expense  of 
fuel  for  a  family  in  ordinary  circumstances,  on  the  prairie, 
need  not  exceed  $30  per  annum.  A  proper  coal-stove  for 
cooking  can  be  found  at  any  of  the  hardware  shops. 


21 


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22 

Limestones. — There  is  no  dearth  of  these  materials, 
whether  required  for  construction  or  for  burning  into 
quicklime.  The  elevated  ridges  in  the  vicinity  of  Galena 
are  capped  by  the  Niagara  limestone  of  a  buff  color, 
which  is  quarried  in  layers  of  various  thicknesses,  is  ea- 
eily  wrought,  and  makes  a  handsome  and  durable  building 
material.  At  the  base  of  the  bluffs  on  the  Mississippi 
river,  in  the  vicinity  of  Dubuque,  a  blue  limestone  of  the 
age  of  the  Trenton  series,  is  quarried  which  affords  a  ma- 
terial equally  desirable.  These  limestones  though  magne- 
sian  in  their  character,  readily  burn  into  lime. 

At  La  Salle,  the  Coal  Measures  are  capped  by  numerous 
layers  of  thick-bedded  limestone  which  is  extensively 
quarried. 

At  Kankakee,  there  are  quarries  in  the  Niagara  lime- 
stone. 

A  few  miles  East  of  La  Salle,  in  the  Lower  Silurian 
series,  there  is  a  band  of  hydraulic  limestone,  from  which 
cement  is  largely  manufactured. 

The  Chicago  limestone,  belonging  to  the  Niagara  group, 
forms  the  most  beautiful  material  for  construction  in  the 
United  States.  It  possesses  a  warm  yellow  tint,  and  has 
not  therefore  the  coldness  of  marble.  It  quarries  in  lay- 
ers thin  enough  for  flags,  and  thick  enough  for  the  most 
solid  structures.  It  is  free  from  grit,  and  may  therefore 
be  sawed,  or  chiseled  into  ornamental  forms.  Adjacent  to 
water  communication,  the  cost  of  transportation  is  slight ; 
so  that  for  building  purposes,  it  affords  a  material  com- 
bining alike  cheapness,  beauty,  and  durability. 

From  a  point  six  miles  above  Jonesboro',  and  thence  to 
Ullin,  the  underlying  rocks  are  limestone,  extending  from 
the  Carboniferous  down  to  the  Lower  Silurian  series.  The 
Oolitic  limestone  near  Jonesboro'  affords  a  beautiful 
building  material,  but  the  lines  of  bedding  are  not  dis- 
tinct, which  interferes  with  the  successful  quarrying. 
Most  of  these  limestones  readily  calcine  into  quicklime. 

Firestones. — The  fine-grained  sandstone  near  Cobden,  in 


23  ^ 

the  Sub-carboniferous  series,  yields  excellent  hearth-stones 
for  furnaces. 

Freestones. — At  the  base  of  the  Coal  Measures,  near 
Makanda,  the  sandstone  is  of  a  uniform  texture,  and 
variously  colored,  buff,  yellow  and  red.  It  is  very  dura- 
ble, cuts  readily,  and  has  all  the  beauty  of  the  Portland 
stone. 

Iron  Ores. — About  two  and  one  half  miles  west  of  the 
Illinois  Central  Railroad,  and  nearly  four  miles  north 
of  Jonesboro',  on  Section  34,  Town  11  S.  Range,  2  West 
of  3d  P.  M.,  being  Railroad  land,  there  occurs  a  ridge 
bearing  east  of  north  and  west  of  south,  which  rises 
quite  abruptly  to  the  height  of  more  than  200  feet  above 
the  valley.  This  ridge  has  appropriately  received  the 
name  of  The  Iron  Mountain.  The  base  of  the  hill  for  50 
feet  or  more  consists  of  fissile  shale,  succeeded  by  80  feet 
of  chert,  intermingled  with  masses  of  hematatic  iron  ore, 
often  in  a  state  of  great  purity ;  the  whole  being  capped 
by  a  cherty  limestone  70  feet  thick. 

These  deposits  have  been  slightly  explored,  but  there 
is  little  doubt  that  here  is  stored  an  inexhaustible  supply 
of  very  rich  ores,  and  under  circumstances  which  admit 
of  their  being  profitably  wrought.  These  deposits  belong- 
to  the  Sub-carboniferous  series. 

Lead  Ores. — Galena  has  long  been  known  as  the  seat  of 
the  richest  lead-bearing  region  in  the  United  States.  The 
Galena  limestone,  or  lead-bearing  rock,  occupies  a  consid- 
erable area  in  Northern  Illinois  and  Iowa,  and  Southern 
Wisconsin.  Its  position  is  between  the  Hudson  river 
group  and  the  Trenton  limestone,  and  the  lead  deposits 
are  restricted  within  that  range.  The  present  product  of 
the  mines  is  from  12,000  to  15,000  tons  per  annum,  valued 
at  from  $1,500,000  to  $2,000,000. 

Brick. — In  the  timber  regions,  the  sub-soil  consists  of 
such  an  admixture  of  clay  and  sand  that  it  may  readily 
be  burned  into  brick.  It  is  rarely  that  the  clay  requires 
any  tempering  of  sand. 


24 


vx 


COST  OF  BUILDING. 

Great  misconception  exists  with  regard  to  the  difficulty 
of  procuring  building  materials.  Those  who  are  unaccus- 
tomed to  a  prairie  region  suppose  that  the  settler  must  be 
subjected  to  great  inconvenience  unless  he  has  at  least  a 
forty-acre  tract  of  woodland  connected  with  his  farm. 
Let  it  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  prairies  are  dotted  with 
groves,  and  the  streams  are  fringed  with  trees  ;  and  there 
are  few  points  where  fire-wood  commands  $4  00  per  cord. 
Chicago  is  the  greatest  and  cheapest  lumber  mart  in 
the  United  States.  A  house  of  the  style  and  dimensions 
of  the  one  represented  above — 16  by  24  feet,  1J  stories 
high,  and  containing  five  rooms — can  be  furnished  com- 
plete and  delivered  on  the  cars  for  $200  :  put  up  within 
100  miles  of  Chicago,  plastered,  painted  once,  and  ready  for 
occupancy,  for  $350.  A  good  board  fence  of  pine  lumber, 
within  100  miles  of  Chicago,  costs  about  70  cents  per  rod. 
The  price  of  fencing  at  this  time  at  Chicago  is  from  $9  00 
to  $9  50  per  M.  Shingles,  best,  $2  50  and  $2  75.  Lath, 
$1  50  to  $2  00.  Posts,  per  100,  $5  00  a  $7  00.  Good 
white-oak  rails  in  the  lumber  region  are  worth  from  $2  00 
to  $3  00  per  hundred ;  and  it  requires  about  28,880  to 
fence  a  section. 


25 


FARMING-  IMPLEMENTS. 

There  is  no  region  in  the  world  which  can  be  cultivated 
more  economically  than  the  prairies  of  Illinois.  There  are 
no  stumps  or  stones  to  obstruct  the  plough  or  mower;  and 
when  once  the  prairie-sod  is  subdued,  there  remains  a  light 
pulverulent  soil,  which  can  be  ploughed  with  a  single  horse. 
The  long,  gentle  swells  of  the  surface  can  be  passed  over 
without  detriment  by  the  various  labor-saving  machines. 
Already  have  these  machines  successfully  supplanted  the 
labor  of  human  muscles,  in  planting,  mowing,  reaping,  and 
threshing.  The  grand  desideratum  is  THE  STEAM-PLOUGH  ; 
and  we  do  not  despair  of  its  accomplishment.  Some  of 
the  best  mechanical  minds  of  the  country  are  at  work  to 
solve  the  problem.  At  the  next  State  Fair  at  least  four 
steam-ploughs  will  be  on  exhibition.  The  Board  of  Agri- 
culture of  Illinois  have  offered  a  premium  of  $6,000  to  the 
inventor  of  a  successful  Steam-plough,  and  the  Illinois 
Central  Railroad  Company  have  super-added  to  it  $1,500. 

Reaping  Machines  are  almost  altogether  used  at  the 
West,  They  cost  $100  to  $150.  They  will  cut  fourteen 
acres  of  wheat  per  day.  Contracts  for  reaping  are  made 
at  62J  cents  per  acre.  The  contractor  furnishes  a  driver, 
raker  and  horses  ;  the  farmer  finds  binders  and  shockers. 


1    X     ^  \    1 

26 

Thrashing  Machines  will  thresh  three  hundred  bushels 
per  day.  It  is  generally  contracted  to  be  done  at  four  to 
five  cents  per  bushel,  the  contractor  furnishing  four 
horses  and  three  hands ;  the  farmer,  four  more  horses  and 
five  more  hands,  making  in  all  eight  hands,  viz.,  one  dri- 
ver, one  feeder,  one  measurer,  one  to  pitch  sheaves,  one 
to  cut  bands,  and  three  to  take  away  straw. 

The  first  class  farmers  are  substituting  portable  steam- 
engines  for  sawing,  threshing,  and  other  purposes. 

Most  of  the  agricultural  implements  are  made  in  the 
State,  and  all  that  are  desired  can  be  procured  at  the  ag- 
ricultural warehouses  in  the  principal  towns.  There  is  no 
necessity  of  importing  them  from  the  East.  Besides,  the 
prairie-ploughs  require  certain  peculiarities  of  construction 
which  distinguish  them  from  all  others.  A  good  breaking- 
plough  costs  $16  ;  common  ploughs  from  $8  to  $10  each. 
Ploughs  made  of  cast  iron  will  not  work  well  in  our  soils, 
as  it  is  impossible  to  keep  them  bright ;  but  those  made 
of  the  best  steel  preserve  their  polish  and  work  freely. 

Ditching  Machines. — "With  a  view  of  benefiting  the  settlers 
on  the  Illinois  Central  Eailroad  lands,  the  Company  have 
offered  a  prize  of  $500  for  the  best  Ditching  Machine ;  the 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  to  be  the  arbiters.  In  the  gen- 
tle depressions  of  the  prairie,  the  surface-waters  accumu- 
late, and  form  what  are  provincially  known  as  slues.  By 
freeing  the  soil  from  this  superfluous  water,  these  lands  may 
be  converted  into  the  finest  meadows,  and  the  health  of  the 
country  greatly  improved.  The  uplands  may  be  rendered 
sufficiently  dry  by  intersecting  the  surface  with  frequent 
furrows,  and  throwing  up  short  slopes  between  them, 
without  a  resort  to  under-drains.  So  finely  divided  is  the 
soil,  and  so  free  from  roots  and  stones,  that  no  serious  ob- 
stacle exists  to  the  introduction  of  some  mechanical  contri- 
vance for  draining  the  "slues,"  more  expeditious  and  more 
economical,  than  the  present  method  of  spading;  particu- 
larly, if  it  be  applied  during  the  wet  season,  when  the 
ground  is  thoroughly  saturated  with  water. 


27 


BREAKING  AND  CULTIVATING-. 

Notwithstanding  the  fertility  of  the  soil,  it  is  idle  to 
suppose  that  the  land  is  going  to  bring  forth  its  increase 
spontaneously.  God  has  not  yet  removed  the  doom 
placed  upon  our  great  ancestor:  "In  the  sweat  of  thy 
brow,  thou  shalt  eat  bread."  These  lands  are  not  cultivat- 
ed, ordinarily,  in  a  husbandman-like  manner.  The  farm- 
ers plough  only  four  or  five  inches  deep,  and  consequently 
if  the  season  is  dry,  the  moisture  cannot  come  up  from 
beneath ;  and  if  the  season  is  wet,  the  water  has  no  chance 
to  leach  away.  A  hoe  is  seldom  introduced  into  the 
corn-field,  but  a  cultivator  is  once  or  twice  during  the 
season  run  between  the  rows,  and  followed  by  the  shovel- 
plough. 

The  usual  process  pursued  in  subduing  a  farm  is  this : 
In  the  months  of  May  and  June  the  sod  is  turned  over. 
It  should  be  delayed  until  the  grass  has  started,  and  fin- 
ished before  it  has  matured,  as  the  roots  sooner  part  with 
their  vitality.  In  six  weeks  the  sod  will  have  rotted.  It  is 
then  ready  to  be  harrowed  or  cross-plowed,  and  sown  with 
wheat.  If  the  wheat  is  properly  drilled,  or  harrowed  in, 
it  is  ordinarily  a  good  crop.  To  this  should  succeed  corn 


^ 

for  two^r  three  years,  and  be  followed  by  oats.  Where 
prairie  is  broken  by  the  middle  of  May,  it  may  be  planted 
in  sod-corn,  and  a  yield  of  15,  20,  or  40,  bushels  per  acre 
may  be  anticipated ;  but  if  the  farmer  has  other  corn-land, 
it  is  not  desirable  to  resort  to  this  crop.  Many  farmers 
use  a  breaking  plough,  which  turns  a  furrow  from  eighteen 
to  twenty-six  inches  wide,  and  about  three  inches  deep, 
requiring  a  force  -of  from  three  to  six  yoke  of  oxen.  The 
plough  is  connected  with  a  pair  of  wheels,  and  is  self-regu- 
lating, so  that  it  requires  only  a  driver  to  manage  it.  The 
cost  of  breaking  prairie  is  about  $2  50  to  $3  00  per  acre. 
There  is,  however,  no  necessity  of  resorting  to  such  a 
cumbersome  force.  A  man  with  a  pair  of  horses  and  a 
good  plough,  cutting  twelve  inches,  can  break  an  acre  and 
one-half  per  day.  And  this  may  be  done  in  the  interval 
between  planting  and  harvesting. 

HEALTH. 

^  The  climate  of  Illinois  is  salubrious.  Upon  the  prairie* 
there  is  always  a  refreshing  breeze ;  and  those  stifling,  en- 
ervating heats,  characteristic  of  the  valleys  and  wooded 
regions,  are  comparatively  unknown.  The  prevailing  dis- 
eases are  bilious;  but  they  are  of  a  mild  type,  and  are 
easily  managed.  Fever  and  ague  is  apt  to  prevail  where 
a  soil,  rich  in  organic  matter,  is  for  the  first  time  turned  up 
to  the  sun ;  but  cultivation  soon  destroys  the  noxious  gases 
which  emanate  from  decaying  herbage.  The  low  bottom- 
lands and  the  dense  groves  which  skirt  the  streams  are 
apt  to  harbor  miasma,  and  their  shelter  is  to  be  avoided. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  too,  that,  in  subduing  a  farm, 
the  settler  deprives  himself  of  comforts,  and  undergoes 
exposures  at  variance  with  his  previous  life;  and  if  he 
finds  himself  in  bad  health,  he  is  fain  to  attribute  to  the 
climate  what  in  reality  is  the  result  of  his  own  reckless- 
ness and  folly. 

Formerly  the  emigrant  came  to  the  state  in  a  canvas- 
covered  wagon  which  afforded  him  inadequate  shelter 


29 

from  the  dews  of  evening,  and  the  vicissitudes  of  temper- 
ature. He  camped  in  the  groves,  and  beside  the  sluggish 
streams,  that  he  might  readily  obtain  wood  and  water, 
where  miasmatic  vapors  were  sure  to  be  generated.  His 
fare  consisted  of  indigestible  bacon  and  clammy  bread. 
He  resorted  for  water  to  the  surface  pool,  or  the  stagnant 
stream.  Arrived  at  his  place  of  destination,  he  erected 
a  wretched  cabin,  through  the  chinks  of  which  the  winds 
of  heaven  had  free  course.  After  all  of  these  exposures,  if 
he  had  a  "shake,"  he  attributed  it  to  the  climate,  rather 
than  to  his  own  indiscretion.  If  at  his  former  home  he 
had  thus  exposed  himself,  the  same  results  would  have 
been  sure  to  follow.  Now,  let  the  emigrant  avoid  the 
groves  where  the  pioneers  settled  for  the  purpose  of  ob- 
taining timber ;  let  him  dig  wells  instead  of  resorting  to 
surface  water;  let  him  exercise  a  due  regimen  over  his 
diet,  using  the  esculent  vegetables  with  his  animal  food ; 
let  him  shun  the  strong  draughts  of  night  air  after  the 
toils  of  the  day;  let  him  erect  a  comfortable  frame  house 
instead  of  the  common  log-cabin;  let  him  surround  him- 
self with  cultivated  fields,  and  pleasant  gardens,  and  orch- 
ards of  fruit, — and  our  word  for  it,  he  shall  find  that  he 
will  enjoy  a  reasonable  degree  of  health, — and  that  God 
has  not  spread  out  these  broad,  fertile  prairies  to  remain 
uninhabitable  by  his  creatures. 

But  instead  of  resorting  to  tneory,  we  confidently  ap- 
peal to  facts.  The  bills  of  mortality  show  that  the  average 
duration  of  life  is  higher  in  Illinois,  than  in  most  of  the 
older  states,  or  in  most  of  the  countries  of  the  Old  World. 
She  is  in  advance  of  Massachusetts,  Connecticut,  or  New 
York,  which  are  regarded  as  healthy ;  and  if  we  extend 
the  comparison  to  England,  we  find  that,  while  in  Illinois 
less  than  fourteen  in  one  thousand  die,  the  average  in 
England  is  upwards  of  twenty-four  in  one  thousand. 

It  may  be  said  that,  in  Illinois  the  population  is  largely 
made  up  of  young  and  vigorous  people  from  the  older 
states ;  but  on  the  other  hand  let  it  be  borne  in  mind,  that 


30 

they  are  compelled  to  undergo  hardships  and  exposures 
which  they  would  not  have  encountered  at  home. 

WATER. 

In  the  hilly  portions  of  the  State,  copious  springs  gush 
out  from  the  surface.  In  the  prairie  region,  this  is  not 
the  case.  Water,  however,  is  ordinarily  reached  at  a 
depth  of  from  twenty  to  forty  feet.  Artesian  wells  have 
been  successfully  tried  in  some  parts  of  the  State.  In 
Iroquois  county,  which  consists  of  high-rolling  prairie, 
not  less  than  one  hundred  and  fifty-four  wells  of  this  char- 
acter have  been  bored  ;  and  instances  are  known,  where, 
when  the  seam  was  struck,  the  force  of  the  current  was 
sufficient  to  bring  up  pebbles  five  inches  in  diameter.  On 
the  farm  of  Mr.  Prentiss,  near  Onarga,  the  water  is  dis- 
charged through  an  orifice  five  inches  in  diameter,  in  a 
copious  stream.  This  water  is  chalybeate  in  character. 

These  wells  vary  from  100  to  150  feet  in  depth,  and 
pass  through  a  blue  clay  into  coarse  gravel  or  quicksand 
beneath,  which  serves  as  a  reservoir. 

CHOPS. 

Indian  Corn. — The  surest,  and  perhaps  in  the  long  run 
the  most  valuable,  crop  raised  in  Illinois  is  Indian  corn. 
The  crop  of  1857,  was  not  less  than  70,000,000  of  bushels; 
and  this  year  it  will  probably  exceed  100,000,000.  The 
cost  of  raising  it  is  about  ten  cents  per  bushel,  and  the 
average  yield  is  40  bushels  per  acre.  In  favorable  seasons 
some  fields,  when  properly  cultivated,  yield  80  and  even 
100  bushels.  One  man  and  a  boy  can  cultivate  40  acres, 
but  two  men  with  a  boy  can  cultivate  100  acres.  The 
farmers  seldom  cany  a  hoe  into  the  field,  but  the  weeds 
are  kept  down  by  the  plough.  When  ripe,  the  corn  may  be 
harvested  at  any  time ;  but  it  is  usually  done  in  mid- winter, 
as  it  receives  no  injury  from  standing  in  the  hill.  It  is 
regarded  in  America  as  the  staff  of  life  not  only  for  man, 
but  beast.  While  it  is  dealt  out  liberally  to  the  horse,  the 


31 

ox,  and  the  pig,  it  forms  an  article  of  diet  alike  for  the 
rich  man  and  the  poor.  It  is  more  nutritious  and  adapts  it- 
self better  to  the  human  system  than  wheat. 

Our  British  relations  have  not  yet  learned  that  it  is  fit 
for  human  food,  or  even  for  horses ;  but  that  it  may  be  safely 
used  in  fattening  swine.  The  demand  for  this  kind  of 
grain,  at  once  so  cheap  and  nutritious,  must  largely  in- 
crease with  the  increase  of  the  human  race,  and  of  those 
animals  so  essential  to  our  support. 

Broom  Corn. — This  article  flourishes  luxuriantly  on  the 
black  prairie-soil,  and  in  the  bottom  lands  of  the  Missis- 
sippi. There  are  specimens  in  the  Land  Department, 
grown  in  the  latter  region,  18  feet  in  hight.  ' 
.  Wheat. — In  that  portion  of  the  State  south  of  the  Terre 
Haute  and  Alton  road,  winter  wheat  is  ordinarily  a  suc- 
cessful crop.  The  peculiarities  of  the  wheat  soil  have 
been  pointed  out,  in  a  previous  part  of  this  Pamphlet. 
The  average  yield  is  probably  not  less  than  20  bushels  per 
acre ;  but  if  the  season  be  favorable,  and  the  crop  be  put 
in  with  care,  the  yield  may  exceed  40  bushels.  The  har- 
vest ordinarily  commences  about  the  10th  of  June. 

In  the  belt  of  country  north  of  this  line,  and  as  high 
up  as  the  Peoria  and  Oquawka  road,  the  crop  is  less  cer- 
tain, and  this  uncertainty  is  due  perhaps  less  to  climate 
than  to  the  mode  of  culture.  The  top  soil,  being  com- 
posed of  decayed  vegetation  and  ashes  deposited  from 
the  annual  burnings,  is  light,  with  little  adhesion  between 
the  particles.  In  dry  weather,  with  a  high  wind,  it  drifts. 
By  deep  ploughing,  bringing  up  the  loam  from  beneath,  a 
firmer  and  more  compact  soil  is  obtained,  which  will  hold 
the  rootlets  of  the  plant  more  securely.  The  shoal  plough- 
ings  of  three  or  four  inches  simply  stir  up  the  loose  ashes 
on  the  surface,  and  the  winds  blow  away  the  particles  of 
pulverulent  earth  from  the  roots  of  the  wheat.  "Without 
asserting,  therefore,  that  the  central  portion  of  the  State 
is  not  adapted  to  winter  wheat,  we  do  say  that  the  method 
of  culture  thus  far  pursued  has  not  been  successful.  Win- 


ter  wheat  should  be  sown,  or  drilled  in,  late  in  August 
or  early  in  September,  that  the  roots  may  be  thoroughly 
imbedded,  and  a  mass  of  vegetation  may  spring  up  to 
serve  as  a  winter  covering  against  the  action  of  frost. 

The  northern  and  central  portions  of  the  State  are  well 
fitted  for  the  growth  of  spring  wheat  which  is  usually 
sown  upon  the  broken  sod  of  the  preceding  year,  or  on  corn- 
stubble.  It  should  be  sown  as  soon  as  the  frost  is  out 
of  the  ground,  so  that  the  straw  may  be  stunted  by  the 
cold  weather.  The  soil  is  so  rich  in  nitrogenized  organic 
matter  that  the  crop  is  apt  to  run  to  stalk,  the  vesicles 
burst,  and  the  ear  does  not  fill ;  and  hence  ensue  blight, 
chess,  smut,  and  rust.  The  analyses  furnished  Mr.  Caird 
show  a  deficiency  of  lime,  and  he  suggests  that  its  applica- 
tion would  consolidate  the  soil,  and  impart  strength  to  the 
wheat-stocks.  The  average  yield  of  spring  wheat  is  from 
15  to  20  bushels  per  acre. 

Oats  is  the  product  of  a  temperate  climate,  and  hence 
they  thrive  best  in  the  northern  and  central  parts  of  the 
State,  where  the  average  yield  is  forty  bushels  to  the  acre, 
and  often  goes  as  high  as  eighty.  They  thrive  best  on 
ground  that  has  been  cultivated  a  few  years,  and  should  be 
harrowed  in  on  land  which  has  been  turned  over  the  pre- 
ceding fall.  The  great  danger  is  from  a  rank  growth, 
producing  a  superabundance  of  straw,  and  hence  early 
sowing  is  the  best. 

Barley  thrives  well,  and  is  more  or  less  saleable.  If  not 
required  for  brewing  malt  liquors,  it  may  be  profitably 
fed,  the  yield  being  about  the  same  as  oats.  Many  of  the 
nations  of  Europe,  particularly  the  "Welsh,  are  fond  of 
their  home-brewed  ale,  and  this  is  far  better  than  corn- 
juice  whiskey. 

Root  Crops,  such  as  the  turnip,  the  carrot,  and  the  ruta- 
baga, may  be  easily  grown  in  the  rich,  mellow  soil  of  the 
prairie  ;  but  thus  far  their  cultivation  has  been  neglected, 
since  corn  is  the  most  economical  food  that  can  l)e  raised. 

Hay  Crop. — With  so  large  a  range  of  natural  pasturage 


about  them,  our  farmers  do  not  properly  appreciate  the 
value  of  the  hay  crop,  when  properly  cured.  It  requires 
the  exercise  of  as  much  care  and  judgment  in  gathering 
as  any  other  crop.  One  farmer,  by  feeding  hay,  properly 
cured,  may  keep  his  stock  in  good  condition  through  the 
winter ;  while  another,  dealing  out  hay  which  has  been 
so  thoroughly  drenched  by  rain  as  to  abstract  all  its  juices, 
is  compelled  to  feed  with  corn  to  keep  his  stock  from  be- 
coming lean.  "With  proper  care,  hay 'may  be  made  the 
most  economical  food  for  stock  during  the  winter.  For 
this  purpose,  it  should  be  cut  while  in  flower,  since  in  this 
state  it  contains  the  largest  amount  of  sugar  and  gluten, 
which  is  the  true  source  of  nutriment.  In  curing  hay, 
the  object  should  be  simply  to  dry  out  the  water.  The 
spreading  of  swaths  is  the  first  process ;  the  cocking,  after 
it  shall  be  thoroughly  wilted,  is  the  second.  The  sweating 
process  which  it  undergoes  does  not  injure  it,  unless  car- 
ried so  far  as  to  decompose  the  juices,  causing  them  to  pass 
off  in  the  form  of  alcohol  and  carbonic  acid  gas,  and  render- 
ing the  hay  itself  "  sour."  As  soon  as  cured,  it  should  be 
stored,  for  nothing  injures  hay  so  much  as  drenching 
rains,  since  the  juices  are  readily  soluble  in  water.  The 
successful  introduction  of  mowing  machines  and  raking 
machines  has  relieved  the  farmer  of  a  vast  amount  of 
manual  labor,  and  now  the  cost  of  gathering  a  ton  of  hay 
in  Illinois  need  not  exceed  one  dollar. 

Timothy  (Phleumpratense). — This  is  a  very  nutritious  grass, 
and  well  fitted  for  exportation.  The  level  prairie  about 
Sandoval  and  Odin  might  be  appropriated  to  its  culture, 
from  which  points,  after  having,,  been  pressed,  it  might 
readily  be  sent  to  the  markets  on  the  Lower  Mississippi. 
Being  perennial,  and  deriving  new  vitality  from  the  tu- 
bers each  year,  it  yields  a  large  return  in  proportion  to 
the  labor  expended.  It  is  not  so  well  adapted  to  pastur- 
age as  some  of  the  other  grasses,  as  the  sharp  feet  of  cat- 
tle are  apt  to  destroy  the  bulbs.  The  yield  is  between 
two  and  three  tons  per  acre. 
3 


34 

Hungarian  Grass. — This  cereal,  first  introduced  by  the 
Hungarian  exiles,  is  becoming  a  favorite  with  the  farmers, 
and  the  seed,  from  its  scarcity,  commands  a  high  price. 
It  requires  to  be  put  in  with  all  the  care  of  wheat.  It 
matures  in  forty  days  sufficiently  to  cut,  and  becomes 
ripe  in  sixty  days  from  sowing.  It  will  answer  to  SOAV, 
therefore,  in  July,  after  the  wheat  crop  has  been  removed. 

Two  crops  may  be  grown  in  the  course  of  a  single  season. 
This  is  an  excellent  fodder,  being  as  nutritious  for  horses 
as  oats  ;  and  cattle  eat  the  stocks  greedily  after  the  seed 
has  been  threshed  out.  The  yield  is  large,  and,  on  the 
whole,  it  is  as  profitable  a  crop  as  the  farmer  can  raise.  Be- 
sides, the  putting  in  of  this  crop  occupies  an  interval  of 
the  farmer's  time  between  the  wheat-harvest  and  the  corn- 
harvest. 

Slue  Grass  (Poa  pratensis}. — This  grass  is  preferred  to 
all  others  by  the  Kentucky  graziers.  It  is  indigenous  to 
the  limestone  soils  of  the  West,  and  readily  flourishes 
when  transferred  to  the  prairies  of  Illinois.  It  is  not  ex- 
tirpated by  the  trampings  of  cattle.  The  usual  method  of 
pasturing  is  to  turn  cattle  upon  it  in  the  spring  and  fall, 
but  to  take  them  off  in  mid-summer.  This  grass  has  this 
valuable  peculiarity  :  it  furnishes  a  light  amount  of  stem, 
but  a  large  amount  of  leaves,  which  continue  growing 
after  the  flowering  stage,  and  hence  afford  almost  peren- 
nial pasturage.  In  the  middle  portion  of  the  State  this 
grass  yields  food  for  eight  months  in  the  season,  but  as 
far  south  as  Centralia  it  remains  green  during  most  of  the 
winter. 

It  is  the  best  method*to  lay  down  the  ground  in.  grass 
after  it  has  been  cropped  for  corn  for  three  or  four  sea- 
sons, as  the  particles  of  soil  acquire  greater  adhesion,  and 
thus  afford  the  roots  a  firmer  hold. 

Prairie  Grass. — There  are  several  varieties  of  prairie 
grass,  but  the  most  esteemed  are  the  Slue-joint,  which 
grows  on  the  borders  of  the  sloughs,  and  the  Red-top, 
which  seeks  the  high  grounds.  It  starts  early  in  May, 


35 

and  continues  green  until  August.  Early  in  autumn  the 
tops  become  dry  and  wiry,  but  towards  the  roots  the 
blades  retain  their  greenness.  It  may  be  cut  for  hay  in 
September  and  October,  and  stacked  for  winter  use.  The 
cost  need  not  exceed  one  dollar  per  ton,  where  a  mower  is 
employed.  In  the  spring  and  summer  it  affords  excellent 
pasturage,  and  cattle  thrive  upon  it.  For  fodder,  it  is  not 
so  good  as  the  cultivated  grasses  which  supplant  it.  It  also 
ceases  to  be  productive  when  it  is  closely  pastured,  or 
mowed  for  a  few  years  in  succession. 

Potatoes. — The  common  potato,  in  the  central  and  south- 
ern parts  of  the  State,  is  not  cultivated  to  a  sufficient  ex- 
tent to  form  an  article  of  export.  Indeed,  it  seems  to  be 
out  of  its  natural  habitat.  The  finest  potatoes  we  have 
ever  seen  were  grown  above  latitude  48°,  where  the  sum- 
mer is  only  about  three  months  in  length.  The  St.  Louis 
market  is  largely  supplied  from  the  colder  clime  of  Michi- 
gan. In  the  northern  part  of  Illinois  it  is  an  article  of 
export. 

Sweet  Potato. — This  plant  matures  as  high  up  as  Chicago, 
but  in  the  latitude  of  Jonesboro'  it  grows  to  an  immense 
size,  and  its  peculiar  flavor  is  developed  in  perfection.  •> 

v 
STOCK-BREEDING,  AND  RAISING-. 

The  prairies  are  well  fitted  for  stock-raising  in  two 
essential  particulars  ;  the  cheapness  with  which  Indian 
corn  can  be  grown,  and  the  almost  unlimited  amount  of 
natural  pasturage.  Jacob  Strahn,  who  came  to  this  coun- 
try twenty-five  years  ago,  a  poor  man,  when  in  the  full 
tide  of  enterprise,  has  been  known  to  turn  off  10,000 
head  of  cattle  a  year.  There  are  other  graziers  who 
range  from  1,000  up  to  5,000.  One  individual  sends  cat- 
tle to  the  eastern  market  to  the  value  of  $500,000  per 
annum.  Many  of  the  Kentucky  and  Ohio  farmers  are 
securing  stock-farms  on  the  Company's  lands.  One  gen- 
tleman from  the  latter  State  has  a  tract  of  22,000  acres 
which  he  is  rapidly  converting  into  a  stock-farm,  and 


36 

another  tract  still  larger,  which  he  proposes  to  treat  in  the 
same  way. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Bloomington  there  are  two  stock- 
growers,  brothers,  who  came  to  this  State  more  than  thir- 
ty years  ago.  They  had  nothing  to  rely  upon  but  their 
strong  hands  and  their  far-seeing  sagacity.  One  of  them 
now  owns  7,000  acres  of  land,  2,700  of  which  is  in  a  high 
state  of  cultivation ;  and  the  yearly  products  of  his  farm, 
in  cattle  and  hogs,  often  reached  $50,000. 

The  other  brother  has  27,000  acres  of  land,  4,000  of 
which  are  in  cultivation ;  and  his  annual  sales  of  pork  and 
beef  reach  $65,000. 

These  are  examples  of  what  industry  and  sagacity  can 
accomplish  upon  these  lands. 

Considerable  attention  has  been  paid  to  cattle-breeding. 
Much  good  stock  has  been  introduced  from  Kentucky  and 
Ohio,  and  many  fine  bulls  have  been  imported  direct  from 
England.  The  short  horns  are  preferred  for  fattening; 
and  of  the  bullocks  turned  off  for  market  each  year,  the 
majority  have  never  submitted  their  necks  to  the  yoke. 

The  method  of  feeding  is  this.  The  cattle  range  over 
the  prairie  in  the  summer  and  fall.  As  the  time  ap- 
proaches to  fit  them  for  market,  they  are  fed  in  the  open 
field  from  the  standing  shocks  of  corn.  Prairie-grass, 
which  has  been  mown  and  stacked  the  previous  fall,  is 
thrown  out  to  them  twice  during  each  day.  Two  hogs 
are  assigned  to  each  ox  to  consume  the  undigested  por- 
tions of  corn. 

It  is  the  impression  among  the  packers  and  graziers 
that  the  production  of  beef  does  not  keep  pace  with  the 
consumption,  and  that  there  is  little  fear  of  over-stocking 
the  market. 

There  are  English  packers  in  the  State  who  put  up  beef 
for  the  London  market,  where  it  bears  a  high  character. 

Swine. — Equal  facilities  exist  for  fattening  hogs,  and 
Chicago  will,  ere  long,  press  close  upon  Cincinnati  in  this 
respect.  It  must  be  confessed,  however,  that  our  farmers 


37 

manifest  too  great  indifference  with  respect  to  the  breed. 
Instead  of  the  rounded  proportions  of  the  Sussex  and 
Berkshire,  we  find  that  the  stock  have  many  of  the  quali- 
ties of  the  race  horse. 

Sheep. — It  is  only  within  a  short  period  that  our  farmers 
have  turned  their  attention  to  wool-growing — a  branch  of 
industry  which  is  quite  as  remunerative  as  any  in  which 
he  can  engage.  The  flocks  may  range  over  the  prairie  for 
eight  months  in  the  year,  in  charge  of  a  shepherd,  but  on 
the  approach  of  winter  they  require  the  shelter  of  sheds, 
and  to  be  fed  from  racks.  The  prairie-grass  appears  to  be 
better  adapted  to  sheep  than  any  of  the  cultivated  grasses. 
That  pest  of  the  flocks,  the  prairie-wolf,  has  now  nearly 
disappeared.  Ewes  of  the  ordinary  breed  cost  about 
$1  50,  weathers  $2  00. 

The  sheep,  like  man,  adapts  himself  to  almost  every 
latitude  ;  and  hence  he  thrives  equally  well  in  every  part 
of  the  State. 

INDUCEMENTS  TO  SETTLE  IN  ILLINOIS. 

Illinois  holds  out  strong  inducements  to  every  young 
man  of  good  health  and  correct  habits,  to  settle  within 
her  borders.  Before  emigrating,  he  might  as  well  make 
up  his  mind  that  he  must  for  a  time  forego  some  of  the 
comforts  and  conveniences  to  which  he  has  been  accus- 
tomed. If  he  has  no  capital,  let  him  not  hang  about  the 
towns,  but  go  to  work  in  the  country  where  there  is  a  de- 
mand for  his  labor,  at  remunerative  prices.  Let  him  buy 
no  land,  until  he  shall  have  accumulated  enough  money 
to  pay  for  a  team,  to  pay  for  fencing  his  farm,  and  erect- 
ing a  comfortable  dwelling.  The  great  fault  with  our 
farmers  has  been,  that  they  have  bought  more  land  than 
they  could  cultivate;  and  hence  have  become  land  poor. 

Three  years  of  labor  will  generally  place  him  in  funds 
to  commence  his  career  as  a  proprietor  of  the  soil. 

To  the  young  farmer  just  starting  in  life,  and  with  a 
capital  of  a  thousand  dollars,  there  is  no  better  field  for 


38 

him  to  enter  upon.  At  home,  he  has  to  encounter  active 
competition,  and  work  for  unremunerative  wages.  If  he 
cultivate  the  paternal  acres,  after  years  of  toil,  and  after 
having  reared  and  educated  a  family  of  children,  he  finds 
himself  at  the  close  of  life,  about  where  he  started.  Very 
many  of  the  farms  in  New  England  do  not  yield  five  per 
cent,  on  the  capital  invested.  They  are  so  small  as  to 
make  it  undesirable  to  subdivide  them  among  the  children 
of  the  owner;  and  hence  the  farmer,'  in  his  declining 
years,  so  apportions  his  estate  that  one  retains  the  home- 
stead, while  the  others  go  out  into  the  world  to  seek  their 
fortunes.  Let  such  an  one,  with  his  good  common-school 
education,  and  his  habits  of  thrift,  come  to  the  broad 
prairies  and  select  a  quarter-section,  or  160  acres,  at  say 
$10  per  acre,  on  the  Company's  terms  of  seven  years'  pay- 
ment. For  four  years  he  pays  interest  in  advance,  the 
first  installment  being  $96.  He  buys  a  yoke  of  oxen  and 
a  plough,  which  shall  cost  him  $100.  He  erects  a  house 
to  shelter  him  from  the  storm,  for  $350,  and  encloses 
forty  acres  with  a  two  board-fence,  to  turn  cattle,  which 
shall  cost  him  $150.  If  he  join  with  a  neighbor,  he  pays 
one-half.  In  May  he  turns  over  the  sod  of  one-half 
of  the  tract  enclosed,  and  puts  in  a  crop  of  corn  which 
shall  yield  him  fifteen  bushels  to  the  acre ;  but  if  he  can 
rent  some  old  land  from  a  neighbor,  it  is  better.  In  June, 
he  breaks  the  other  half,  and  early  in  September,  he  har- 
rows in  his  wheat.  With  his  remaining  means,  let  him 
buy  a  few  pigs  and  calves,  or  yearlings.  The  former  he 
should  pen  up,  but  the  latter  may  roam  over  the  prairie. 
A  few  tons  of  hay  mown  from  some  neighboring  meadow, 
together  with  his  sod-corn,  will  carry  his  stock  through 
the  winter. 

The  second  year,  his  twenty  acres  of  corn-land  will  be 
mellow  and  ready  to  be  re-planted.  He  encloses  another 
forty  acres,  at  a  cost  of  $112  50,  or  if  he  remove  the  di- 
vision fence,  his  expenses  for  additional  materials  will  be 
$75.  He  breaks  an  additional  forty,  going  through  the 


39 

sumo  routine.  In  July  his  wheat  is  harvested,  which  will 
yield  him  400  bushels,  worth  from  $300  to  $400,  and  in 
October  he  finds  himself  in  possession  of  800  or  1000 
bushels  of  corn,  half  a  dozen  fatted  hogs,  and  others  com- 
ing on  to  supply  their  places;  his  calves  will  have  in- 
creased fifty  per  cent,  in  value,  his  steers  will  be  ready  to 
break,  and  one-half  of  his  farm,  or  eighty  acres,  will  be 
in  a  high  state  of  cultivation,  and  his  first  broken  land 
in  a  condition  to  pnt,  out  in  orchards,  and  everything 
will  have  assumed  uii  air  of  comfort.  The  worst  is  now 
over.  One-half  of  his  farm  is  subdued,  and  will  from  hence- 
forth, prove  remunerative.  The  third  year,  he  fences  the 
whole  160  acres,  by  purchasing  $75  worth  of  new  mate- 
rials, and  removing  the  divisional  fences.  If  he  wishes 
to  make  a  fence  to  turn  hogs,  he  must  add  about  thirty- 
three  per  cent,  to  the  first  cost.  Again  he  breaks,  and 
again  goes  through  the  same  processes  before  described. 
He  reaps  his  wheat,  and  gathers  his  corn.  His  calves  have 
grown  to  cattle,  his  trees  have  taken  root,  his  farm  is  now 
subdued  and  fenced,  and  he  looks  over  his  broad  acres 
with  a  feeling  of  satisfaction,  "  I  HAVE  MADE  MYSELF  A 
HOME."  The  fourth  year,  he  commences  his  payment  of 
principal,  and  in  the  soil  he  finds  himself  possessed  of 
ample  resources  to  meet  it. 

Such  is  an  outline  of  what  a  man  of  energy  and  a  little 
capital  can  accomplish  on  these  lands.  The  proprietor 
in  his  own  right  of  a  farm  of  160  acres,  properly  fenced 
and  cultivated,  with  a  neat  house,  surrounded  with  gar- 
dens and  orchards,  and  flocks  and  herds,  he  need  not  re- 
pine at  his  lot. 

To  the  capitalist,  these  lands  ofier  good  opportunities 
for  judicious  investment.  Their  cultivation  will  afford  a 
sure  and  profitable  return,  while  their  value  will  be  rap- 
idly enhanced  from  the  great  influx  of  population  and 
wealth,  and  the  consequent  development  of  the  agricul- 
tural and  mineral  resources  of  the  State. 

Lands  in  Ohio,  Kentucky,  and  Indiana,  equally  eligible 


40 

to  market,  but  less  desirable  in  fertility,  are  held  at  from 
$60  to  $100  per  acre.  The  disparity  is  still  greater  if  the 
comparison  is  extended  to  the  Atlantic  States.  Now,  in 
the  progress  of  settlement,  one  of  two  things  must  take 
place ;  either  these  prairie-lands  must  rapidly  rise  in  value 
to  the  standard  in  the  older  states,  or  the  latter  must  fall 
until  they  accommodate  themselves  to  the  standard  here. 
The  true  measure  of  value  will  be  the  productiveness  of 
the  land,  minus  the  cost  of  transporting  the  products  to 
market. 

There  is  another  class  to  whom  these  lands  should  prove 
attractive,  to  wit ; — the  middling  farmers  of  England,  Scot- 
land and  Wales.  Deriving  their  origin  from  a  common 
ancestry  with  us,  speaking  the  same  language,  and  linked 
to  us  by  a  common  bond  of  sympathy,  in  religion,  morals, 
and  educational  movements,  these  men  would  feel  that 
they  were  casting  their  lot  among  friends  instead  of 
strangers.  In  setting  forth  the  inducements  to  emigra- 
tion, we  prefer  to  use  the  language  of  one  of  their  own 
countrymen,  Mr.  Caird,  whose  reputation  as  an  accurate 
and  competent  observer  cannot  be  questioned.  "We  quote 
from  his  letter  to  Mr.  Moffatt,  Chairman  of  the  London 
Committee  of  the  Illinois  Central  Railway  Company.  He 
Bays  : — 

"  To  the  young  farmer  who  has  to  face  keen  competition  at  home, 
with  rising  rents  and  increasing  wages,  both  a  good  thing  to  the  coun- 
try at  large,  but  both  likely  to  be  accompanied  by  diminished  profits  to 
himself,  the  change  will  be  this — that  he  may  become  the  owner  of 
better  land  in  Illinois  for  the  same  sum  as  he  would  have  to  pay  as 
a  year's  rent  here ;  that  though  manual  labor  is  dearer,  it  is  greatly 
economized  by  machinery ;  and  that  the  soil  is  so  fresh  and  inexhausted 
that  it  requires  no  outlay  for  manures.  Moreover,  in  the  present 
state  of  that  country,  he  need  not  purchase  more  land  than  he  can 
crop,  as  he  is  free  to  graze  his  stock  on  the  unoccupied  prairie.  It  is 
this  that  constitutes  one  great  advantage  of  settling  on  a  prairie  in  com- 
parison with  a  woodland  country.  In  the  latter,  the  settler  can  use  no 
land  until  he  conquer  it  from  the  forest ;  in  the  former,  he  not  only 
can  at  once  put  under  crop  all  the  land  he  purchases,  but  he  is  at  lib- 
erty to  pasture  his  stock  and  cut  his  hay  without  hindrance  on  all  the 
unoccupied  and  fertile  prairie  which  stretches  around  him.  The  grass 


41 

and  hay  for  his  cattle  thus  cost  him  nothing,  and  though  manual  labor 
is  dearer,  horse-keep,  which  in  England  is  such  a  heavy  charge  on  the 
farmer,  is  very  cheap.  The  skillful  stock  manager  could  not  fail  to 
make  money,  whether  by  cattle  or  sheep.  Merino  sheep  are  found 
very  profitable.  And,  in  regard  to  corn  farming,  if  he  considers  that 
the  average  price  of  wheat  in  Illinois  for  the  last  ten  years  has  been 
more  than  half  that  of  England  during  the  same  period,  whilst  land  of 
equal  quality  can  be  bought  at  less  than  one-thirtieth  of  the  English 
price,  he  will  see  in  a  moment  the  immense  disproportion  between  the 
value  of  the  produce  and  that  of  the  land  in  the  two  countries — and 
the  chances  which  he  thus  has  of  an  immediate  profit,  besides  the  far- 
ther great  probability  of  such  an  early  rise  in  the  value  of  the  land  he 
buys  as  will  tend  to  equalize  the  respective  rates  of  profit  in  the  two 
countries.  The  advantages  which  are  offered  to  this  class  of  purchasers 
by  your  credit  system  are  very  obvious.  A  young  man  cannot  enter 
an  arable  farm  of  300  acres  in  this  country  without  a  capital  of  nearly 
£2,000.  Half  that  sum  in  Illinois  will  make  him  owner  of  the  same 
extent  of  land,  fenced,  ploughed,  and  all  under  wheat.  And  if  he  avails 
himself  of  the  Company's  credit  system,  little  more  than  £500  will  be 
necessary  to  start  him." 

To  the  men  of  other  nationalities,  Illinois  offers  a  cordial 
welcome  and  an  hospitable  home.  The  Dane,  the  Swede, 
the  Norwegian,  the  Irish,  the  German,  with  his  liberty- 
loving  principles,  in  coming  here,  shall  find  those  to  whom 
he  is  connected  by  the  ties  of  country,  and  with  whom 
he  can  at  once  affiliate.  To  such  men,  organized  emi- 
gration is  preferable.  Let  them  send  a  committee  to 
the  Land  Department,  and  an  examiner  will  be  detailed 
to  show  them  the  Company's  lands,  and  inform  them 
where  contiguous  tracts  can  be  secured.  If  the  report  is 
favorable,  let  the  committee  arrange  for  the  arrival  and 
settlement  of  the  colony,  by  building  houses,  digging 
wells,  and  fencing  farms,  and  providing  all  of  those  com- 
forts and  conveniences,  which  shall  take  away  from  the 
emigrant  all  unpleasant  associations  connected  with  his 
new  home. 

ROUTES  TO  ILLINOIS. 

The  principal  ports  in  the  United  States  at  which  the 
emigration  is  landed  are  New  York,  Boston,  Portland, 
and  New  Orleans.  The  cost  of  passage  across  the  At- 


42 

lantic  is  from  $100  and  upwards,  to  $30  and  below, 
dependent  on  the  character  of  the  accommodations.  The 
map  prefixed  to  this  report  will  show  the  railway  connec- 
tions between  Chicago,  the  seat  of  the  Company's  princi- 
pal offices,  and  these  points  of  departure.  The  following 
are  the  rates  of  fare  at  this  time : — 

FROM  NEW  YORK. 

1st  Class.       2d  Class.     Emigrant. 

Via  Hudson  River,  New  York  Central,  Great 
Western  (Canada),  and  Michigan  Central, 
Railroads  (distance  950  miles),  affording 
the  traveler  an  opportunity  of  visiting  Niag- 
ara Falls  and  the  Great  Suspension  Bridge 
over  the  Niagara  River,  without  deviation 

from  his  route, $23  00  $16  00  $10  00 

If  the  traveler  prefer,  he  may  proceed 

Via  Hudson  River,  New  York   Central,  Buffalo   and  Erie,  Cleveland 

and  Erie,  Cleveland  and  Toledo,  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroads, 

(distance  963  miles). 
Via  New   York  and  Erie,    Buffalo  and  Erie,    Cleveland  and  Eric, 

Cleveland  and  Toledo,  and  Michigan  Southern  Railroads,  (distance 

960  miles). 
Via  Camden  and  Amboy,  Pennsylvania  Central,  and  Pittsburg,  Fort 

Wayne  and  Chicago  Railroads,  (distance  920  miles) . 

The  fares  in  each  case  will  be  the  same. 
FROM  BOSTON. 

1st  Class.       2d  Class.    Emigrant. 

Via  Boston  and  Worcester,  Western,  New  York 

Central,    Great   Western    (Canada),   and 

Michigan     Central     Railroads,    (distance 

1010  miles), $24  00  $14  00  $10  00 

FROM  NEW  ORLEANS. 
Via  New  Orleans,  Jackson  and  Great  North- 
ern, Mississippi  Central,  Mobile  and  Ohio, 

and  Illinois  Central,  (distance  962  miles),  $30  00     none.     none. 
Via  Steamboat  to  Cairo  (1077  miles),  thence 

by   Illinois   Central   Railroad   to  Chicago 

(365  miles)— 1442  miles,    .  .     $30  00  $11  50 

The  cost  of  passage,  during  the  past  season,  by  "  Train's 
Line,"  has  been  as  follows: — 

From  Liverpool  to  Boston,  $18. 

From  Gottenberg  to  Boston,  -      $20  to  $24. 

These  are  about  the  rates  from  these  foreign  ports  to 
New  York. 


REMARKS 


ON    THE 

SOIL    AND    PRODUCTIONS    OP    ILLINOIS 


[  THE  following  remarks  on  the  soil  and  productions  of  Illinois,  have  been  prepared 
by  M.  L.  Dunlap,Esq.,  of  West  TJrbana,  Champaign  County,  Illinois.  Mr.  Dnnlap 
has  been  for  twenty-three  years  a  resident  farmer  in  the  State.  For  eighteen 
years  he  cultivated  a  nursery  and  farm  at  Leyden,  Cook  County,  and  for  three 
years  past  has  pursued  the  same  course  on  a  farm  of  two  hundred  and  forty  acres, 
three  miles  south  of  Urbana  Station  on  the  Chicago  Branch  of  the  Illinois  Central 
Railroad.  Having  been  connected  for  the  past  fifteen  years  with  agricultural  and 
other  journals  as  editor  or  correspondent,  he  has  become  thoroughly  familiar  with 
the  advantages,  systems  of  agriculture,  and  results  of  cultivation,  in  all  portions  of 
the  State,  and  is  considered  as  an  authority  on  these  subjects.  A  practical  farmer 
by  profession,  with  long  and  varied  experience,  travelling  repeatedly  over  all  sec- 
tions of  the  State  as  an  intelligent  and  comprehensive  observer,  the  accumulated  re- 
sults of  his  examination  thus  presented  to  the  public,  cannot  fail  to  be  of  great  ad- 
vantage to  all  looking  towards  the  selection  of  a  western  home.] 

NORTHERN  ILLINOIS. 

Soil. — The  leading  feature  of  the  soil  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  State  is  its  resting  on  a  stiff  clay  sub-soil  nearly 
impervious  to  water.  This  sub-soil  breaks  up  into  small 
cakes  when  thrown  up  with  the  spade.  When  the  soil  is 
ploughed,  say  ten  to  thirteen  inches  deep,  by  trench- 
ploughing,  that  is,  reversing  the  soil  to  that  depth,  and 
sub-soiled  six  or  eight  inches  below  this,  then  it  is  in  a  con- 
dition to  absorb  and  carry  off  the  surface  water,  and  in 
case  of  drought  to  supply  moisture  from  below  by  capil- 
lary attraction.  On  the  other  hand  shallow  ploughing, 
sav  from  four  to  six  inches,  is  ruinous  to  the  farmer,  as 
the  crops  are  liable  to  injury  by  every  change  of  weather. 
On  this  shallow  ploughing,  winter  wheat  is  thrown  out  by 


44 

frost;  or  the  drying  winds  of  March  destroy  the  roots  by 
robbing  them  of  moisture.  I  apprehend  it  is  not  so  much 
a  want  of  lime  in  the  soil,  as  a  want  of  deep  culture  that 
shall  provide  for  an  equable  distribution  of  moisture,  that 
has  made  the  growing  of  winter- wheat  so  unprofitable  in 
this  part  of  the  State.  Under-drains  are  too  expensive  to 
be  used  on  wheat-lands ;  nor  are  they  needed  on  our  roll- 
ing plains,  where  deep  tillage  is  effected,  except  as  a 
means  to  carry  off  the  surface  water  along  the  lines  of  de- 
pression. "With  this  deep  tillage  and  the  necessary  belts 
of  timber  to  break  off  the  March  winds,  winter-wheat  can 
be  cultivated  profitably  in  this  part  of  the  State. 

Spring  Wheat  and  Oats. — These  are  favorite  cereals, 
and  have  been  found  profitable  even  under  a  bad  system 
of  culture.  The  land  for  both  requires  nearly  the  same 
system  of  working :  it  should  be  powdered  in  all  cases  in 
autumn  and  wheat  sown  early  in  March ;  while  the  oats 
should  be  sown  early  in  April,  or  in  case  of  a  late  spring, 
immediately  after  the  wheat.  Thus  the  ploughing  and 
sowing  of  these  grains  is  done  at  a  season  of  the  year 
when  the  weather  is  favorable  for  team  work  and  when 
other  farm  labor  is  not  pressing. 

Corn,  and  the  System  of  Cultivation.  —  Let  us  take  a  piece 
of  winter-wheat  stubble  that  has  been  sub-soiled  as  indi- 
cated,— plough  this  in  autumn,  say  three  or  four  inches 
deep,  just  sufficient  to  bury  the  stubble  and  seeds  of 
weeds.  By  spring  this  will  have  become  rotted,  and  form 
a  valuable  manure ;  the  previous  sub-soiling  will  tend  to 
make  the  surface  dry  and  of  course  it  can  be  easily 
ploughed  in  time  to  plant.  This  ploughing  should  be  eight 
inches  deep,  and  if  well  done,  will  bury  the  seeds  of  weeds 
below  the  point  where  they  can  germinate,  and  the  after 
culture  is  quite  easy. 

As  soon  as  the  corn  is  ripe,  it  should  be  picked  and 
husked,  and  now  comes  the  question — What  shall  be  done 
with  the  stalks?  My  answer  is, — use  them  for  drains.  By 
placing  a  curved  iron  two  inches  wide,  three-eights  of  an 


45 

inch  thick,  and  about  twenty  inches  long,  to  the  under  side 
of  the  plough-beam  and  at  right  angles  to  it,  fastened  with 
a  coulter  clasp,  the  stalks  will  be  brought  within  a  small 
compass,  and  the  furrow  will  even  them  completely.  Thus, 
every  fourth  furrow  will  be  laid  with  corn-stalk-tile. 

Early  in  March,  or  so  soon  as  the  frost  is  partially  out  of 
the  ground,  this  should  be  sown  with  spring-wheat  and 
thoroughly  harrowed  in ;  if  the  ground  is  dry,  rolling  will 
be  useful,  but  if  wet  otherwise.  If  the  ground  is  muddy 
at  the  time  of  sowing,  it  is  just  as  well,  as  the  subsequent 
frost  will  make  it  mellow.  The  important  point  is  to  sow 
early,  and  have  the  soil  well  covered.  This  crop  can  be 
followed  with  oats  ;  spring  wheat  should  follow  turnips 
and  potatoes  ;  sow  oats  on  sod-land,  or  after  wheat  or  bar- 
ley, otherwise  the  straw  is  too  rank  and  will  lodge. 

The  Dairy. — But  this  part  of  the  State,  though  it  will 
produce  the  cereals  at  a  good  profit,  is  to  be  the  great 
dairy  district  of  the  Northwest.  Its  natural  adaptation  to 
the  grasses,  the  endurance  and  richness  of  its  pasturage, 
the  great  stretches  of  natural  meadow,  the  humidity  of 
the  climate,  the  springs  of  water,  and  the  nearness  to  a 
large  and  growing  city, — all  point  to  this  as  the  great  lead- 
ing feature  of  the  productive  farming  industry  of  Northern 
Illinois,  and  to  those  who  wish  to  make  this  their  busi- 
ness, it  offers  the  most  superior  inducements. 

Fruit-growing. — Thus  far,  fruit-growing  has  not  proved 
profitable  in  this  part  of  the  State.  The  severity  of 
the  winters  has  greatly  damaged  the  orchards,  unless 
well  protected  by  belts  of  timber.  At  the  same  time,  the 
garden  fruits  such  as  strawberries,  currants,  native  rasp- 
berries, and  the  Houghton  gooseberry,  have  done  well ;  and 
no  family  need  be  without  an  abundance  of  these  valua- 
ble fruits.  The  Clinton  and  Isabella  grapes  thrive  well, 
where  trained  within  bounds,  and  protected  in  winter. 

Vegetables. — Irish  potatoes,  turnips,  cabbages,  and  the 
usual  garden  vegetables  thrive  well  in  this  part  of  the 
State.  Sweet  potatoes  have  of  late  been  introduced  and 


46 

produce  a  fair  crop,  but  are  wanting  in  that  richness  that 
is  acquired  under  the  influence  of  a  more  southern  sun. 
For  domestic  use,  they  will  prove  a  valuable  addition. 

Sheep  and  Swine. — Sheep  husbandry,  unless  with  a 
view  to  mutton,  must  give  place  to  the  dairy  ;  while  pork 
raising  must  always  form  a  part  of  the  dairy  products, 
and,  though  secondary,  will  yet  go  far  to  swell  the  profits 
of  the  farm,  and  add  to  the  shipping  values  of  the  state. 

Broom  Corn,  Flax,  etc. — Broom  corn  has  become  a 
staple  product,  and  enters  largely  among  our  articles  ot 
export,  both  in  the  brush,  and  manufactured  into  brooms. 
Flax  is  grown  to  considerable  extent  in  the  north-eastern 
part  of  the  State,  for  the  seed  and  also  the  lint,  which  in 
the  form  of  tow  is  in  demand  in  the  city.  Barley  yields 
good  crops,  but  the  fluctuations  in  price  have  been  such 
as  to  discourage  its  culture  to  some  extent. 

Manufactures. — The  Fox,  and  Rock  rivers  form  a  con- 
tinued series  of  water  power,  sufficient  to  build  up  hun- 
dreds of  villages,  which  must  make  a  ready  home-market 
for  a  large  part  of  our  farm  products,  and  give  a  denser 
population  than  will  probably  be  realised  by  any  other 
portion  of  the  Northwest. 

CENTRAL  ILLINOIS. 

Has  a  dryer  climate,  being  out  of  the  range  of  the  lake 
winds,  with  a  somewhat  similar  soil ;  but  with  a  sub-soil  of 
clay  loam,  in  most  cases  permeable  to  moisture.  These 
two  points  make  a  decided  difference  in  the  natural  pro- 
ducts of  each. 

Winter  Wheat. — For  winter  wheat,  this  portion  of  the 
State  has  an  advantage  in  the  more  perfect  drainage  of  the 
sub-soil,  making  it  less  liable  to  heave  out  by  winter  frosts ; 
but  both  parts  of  the  State  need  the  snow-covering  which 
gives  to  the  northern  belt  of  winter  grain  its  great  pro- 
tection ;  yet  when  sown  here  on  a  clover  layer,  timothy  sod, 
or  even  prairie  sod,  it  is  comparatively  a  profitable  crop. 

Spring  Wheat. — But  we  predict  that  spring-wheat  will 


47 

be  found  equally,  if  not  more  profitable  than  winter-wheat, 
and  that  it  must  assume  a  prominent  place  in  any  system 
of  rotation. 

Oats. — In  the  strong  loam,  oats  are  apt  to  grow  too 
vigorously,  and  are  pretty  sure  to  lodge ;  this  has  prevent- 
ed their  culture,  and  accounts  for  the  almost  total  absence 
of  this  grain. 

Corn. — There  is  no  part  of  the  world  of  the  same  extent, 
that  is  so  natural  to  corn  as  this  division  of  the  State,  and 
it  may  safely  challenge  all  competition  in  this  regard. 
The  first  field  has  yet  to  be  pointed  out  that  shows  any 
sign  of  failure,  however  long  it  has  been  kept  in  corn, 
even  without  manure,  and  with  the  repeated  ploughing 
under  of  the  stalks  it  might  be  considered  inexhaustible. 

Grass  and  Pasturage. — Timothy  and  clover  produce  a 
large  yield  of  hay,  but  are  not  so  well  adapted  to  pas- 
turage. The  blue  grass  luxuriates  in  this  friable  loam, 
and  for  eight  months  of  the  year  produces  the  richest 
herbage.  During  the  hot  months,  it  is  less  luxuriant,  but 
through  most  of  the  winter  it  will,  if  not  fed  close  in  the 
autumn,  furnish  a  plentiful  supply.  Capt.  J.  !N".  Brown, 
who  winters  annually  over  seven  hundred  head  of  cattle 
and  horses,  says  that  he  feeds  less  than  half  a  ton  of  hay 
per  head,  and  mostly  when  the  weather  is  too  inclement 
to  allow  the  stock  in  the  open  pasture.  This  grass  im- 
proves with  feeding,  and  needs  no  breaking  up  and  re-sod- 
ing  for  renewal.  It  is  not  adapted  to  meadows.  With 
such  a  grass  and  corn-soil,  it  should  be  no  matter  of  sur- 
prise that  Central  Illinois  stands  so  high  in  the  beef  and 
pork-markets  of  the  world. 

Beef  and  the  Dairy. — The  dryness  of  the  climate,  the 
want  of  springs,  the  lack  of  succulent  pasturage  in  the  heat 
of  summer,  make  this  less  desirable  for  dairying ;  while 
the  cheapness  of  corn,  the  rich  pasturage  afforded  by  the 
blue  grass  for  all  except  the  hot  months,  giv§  to  stock- 
growing  the  advantage,  and  hence  beef  and  pork  are  the 
great  staples  of  this  part  of  the  State. 


48 

Vegetables  require  deep  and  thorough  culture  to  with- 
stand the  heat  of  summer,  and,  with  the  exception  of  sweet 
potatoes,  are  not  so  sure  a  crop  as  in  the  north. 

Fruits. — "We  now  meet  with  a  decided  improvement  iu 
the  productions  of  the  orchard.  Yet  even  here  orchards 
will  do  better  when  protected  by  belts  of  timber,  espec- 
ially on  the  south  and  west.  The  peach-crop  is  not  cer- 
tain, yet  often  the  trees  are  loaded  to  profusion.  Grapes, 
with  open  thorough  culture,  and  proper  winter  protection, 
will  produce  good  crops.  Raspberries,  blackberries,  and 
strawberries  produce  abundantly.  The  currant  and  goose- 
bery  do  not  thrive  so  well  unless  shaded,  the  climate  be- 
ing too  warm. 

SOUTHERN  ILLINOIS  (Egypt). 

.  As  we  proceed  south  on  the  Chicago  branch  of  the  Illi- 
nois Central  Railroad,  near  Kioga,  we  observe  a  change 
of  soil.  Instead  the  blackish,  or  mulatto  soil  of  Central 
Illinois,  we  now  meet  with  the  dull  gray,  or  whitish  soil  of 
Egypt,  the  drift  of  which  it  is  composed  partaking  largely 
of  lime.  Winter  wheat  takes  the  place  of  spring  wheat ; 
oats  and  barley  flourish;  corn  is  also  a  favorite  crop. 
While  Irish  potatoes  and  vegetables  make  but  a  poor  re- 
turn, sweet  potatoes  grow  luxuriantly.  Apples  and 
peaches  produce  abundantly;  currants  and  gooseberries 
are  more  difficult  of  culture.  Timothy  produces  a  good 
crop  of  hay; — pasturage  during  the  hot  months  is  poor, 
water  is  more  difficult  to  be  had ;  and  the  products  of  the 
dairy  are  of  an  inferior  quality.  The  mild  winters  are  fa- 
vorable to  stock-growing.  Hemp  and  tobacco  grow  well, 
but  the  great  staple  is  winter-wheat,  which  is  of  superior 
quality.  Cattle,  hogs,  and  fruit  thrive,  of  which  peaches 
stand  first  and  foremost  in  list  of  profitable  products. 

The  Newton  Pippin. — In  that  portion  of  Egypt  north 
of  the  Big  Muddy,  the  prairie-soil  contains  an  excess  of 
lime,  and  this  is  essential  to  the  growth  and  perfection  of 
this  favorite  American  apple.  Nowhere  does  this  variety 


49 

flourish  better  than  in  this  lime-soil ;  and  in  a  few  years, 
this  section  of  the  State  will  be  more  celebrated  for  this 
fruit,  than  the  Hudson  river  valley  or  Pelham  Farm,  as 
here  this  variety  attains  a  size  and  fairness  unexcelled. 

Apple  Orchards. — From  the  adaptation  of  the  soil,  the 
mildness  of  the  climate,  and  the  ready  access  to  mar- 
kets, in  every  direction,  these  belts  of  lime-mud  drift 
must  ere  long  be  mainly  set  to  orchards ;  as  the  de- 
mand for  fruit,  both  north  and  south,  must  not  only  be 
constant,  but  increase  in  the  direct  ratio  of  the  popula- 
tion. There  is  no  part  of  the  United  States  so  natural  to 
this  fruit  as  this.  Apples,  pears,  and  peaches  all  grow 
bountifully;  but  the  apple  will  be  the  great  staple,  as  a 
failure  is  never  known,  and  partial  failures  seldom  occur. 

Timber. — South  of  the  Big  Muddy  the  land  is  densely 
timbered,  and  rolling,  or  broken  into  ridges.  The  soil  is 
sandy  loam,  mixed  with  clay,  and  superior  for  the  growth 
and  the  perfect  maturity  of  the  pear.  Jonesboro',  nearly  in 
the  centre  of  this  tract,  has  a  wide  reputation  for  this  val- 
uable fruit.  A  large  number  of  pear  farms  are  opening, 
mostly  in  the  high  broken  knolls ;  but  when  this  timber  is 
cut  away,  so  as  to  lower  the  frost  line,  nearly  all  the 
country  will  be  found  adapted  to  this  fruit. 

Generalities. — The  subject  of  planting  corn  on  prairie-sod, 
broken  up  in  May  and  early  in  June,  has  been  the  source 
of  much  difference  in  opinion.  Prairie  in  its  natural  state, 
when  not  previously  pastured  by  stock,  and  broken  up 
and  planted  at  that  season,  will  be  found  uncertain  in  its 
results,  and  is  not  to  be  recommended  to  the  new.  settler ; 
but  when  this  grass  has  been  well  fed  down,  it  presents  a 
very  encouraging  prospect  of  success.  In  this  condition,  it 
usually  yields  twenty  to  forty  bushels  of  corn  per  acre,  and 
will  prove  profitable.  The  soil  before  partially  rotted,  or 
destroyed  by  the  tramping  of  cattle,  will  soon  decay,  and 
the  ground  will  be  in  a  good  condition  for  the  next  crop. 
Whenever  it  can  be  done,  it  is  desirable  to  pasture  the 
prairie  a  year  or  two,  before  breaking.  This  has  been 


50 

my  practice,  and  my  best  paying  crops  have  been  taken 
from  prairie-sod  on  the  first  breaking. 

It  requires  but  a  glance  to  convince  us  that  the  dairy- 
man should  locate  in  the  northern  part  of  the  State ;  the 
stock  grower  in  the  central;  the  apple  orchardist  in  the 
prairie  portion  of  Egypt ;  and  the  peach  grower  and  gard- 
ener in  the  southern,  or  timber  portions  : — not  that  any  or 
all  of  these  products  cannot  be  grown  in  all  parts  of  the 
State,  but  that  in  these  particular  locations,  all  of  the  ele- 
ments of  success  are  fully  developed. 


PROGRESS  OF  DEVELOPMENT. 

It  is  impossible  for  a  foreigner  to  realize  the  progress  of 
development  in  the  region  north-west  of  the  Ohio  river. 
It  is  now  a  little  more  than  seventy  years  since  the  first 
American  colony  was  planted  in  that  region.  Since  then, 
great  and  wonderful  changes  have  taken  place: — Seven 
states  carved  out  of  this  territory  and  incorporated  into 
the  Union;  cities  founded,  one  of  which  exceeds  200,000, 
and  one  120,000  in  population,  and  several  which  ex- 
ceed 50,000;  villages  planted  at  frequent  intervals,  with 
churches  and  school  houses ;  wide  tracts  of  forest  leveled 
and  converted  into  cultivated  farms ;  roads  and  post  routes 
everywhere  opened;  the  bordering  lakes  and  rivers  float- 
ing a  commercial  marine  equal  to  that  of  a  second  class 
power;  the  territory  itself  traversed  by  8986  miles  of  rail- 
way, and  constructed  at  a  cost  of  $230,476,910;  and  an 
added  population  of  about  9,000,000,  or  nearly  one-third 
of  the  entire  population  of  the  United  States.  In  the 
history  of  this  period,  there  have  been  many  commercial 
revulsions;  but  the  region  has  always  shown  a  recupera- 
tive power.  Each  census  has  exhibited  a  large  increase 
in  population,  and  a  large  development  of  material  wealth. 


51 

INDUCEMENTS  TO  EMIGRATE. 


[THE  subjoined  remarks  are  extracted  from  Caird's  "  Prairie  Farming  in  America," 
— a  work  which  at  this  time  is  exciting  much  attention  in  Great  Britain.  What  he 
says  in  reference  to  over-crowded  population,  and  the  enhanced  value  of  land  in  the 
Old  World,  is  equally  applicable  to  portions  of  the  Atlantic  States.] 

"  THK  present  position  of  the  agricultural  body  in  the  United  King- 
dom is  interesting  and  peculiar.  The  land-owner  and  the  agricultural 
laborer  are  both  profiting  by  the  same  cause,  a  limited  supply  of  the 
commodity  in  which  they  deal.  So  long  as  this  country  continues  to 
prosper,  the  value  of  land  must  increase,  for  there  can  be  no  increase 
of  the  land  itself.  But  the  demand  for  labor  varies,  and  the  supply  is 
subject  to  causes  which  render  it  uncertain.  While,  so  long  as  the 
present  system  of  taxation  continues,  there  must  be  a  continued  rise  in 
the  value  of  land,  there  appears  to  me  no  equal  certainty  of  a  pro- 
gressive advance  in  the  rate  of  wages. 

"  But  the  hirer  of  land,  the  farmer,  must  inevitably  suffer  from  the 
continued  competition  for  its  possession.  He  has  not  only  to  meet  his 
own  class,  a  necessarily  increasing  body,  in  this  competition,  but  to 
contend  with  men  who,  having  made  money  in  other  pursuits,  wish  to 
retire  to  the  more  pleasurable  occupations  of  a  country  life.  It  is  this 
competition  which  is  the  true  cause  of  the  reduced  profits -of  farming, 
and  this  is  more  likely  to  increase  than  diminish.  Great  Britain  is  the 
most  attractive  place  of  residence  on  the  surface  of  the  globe,  whether 
we  regard  its  equable  and  healthy  climate,  its  varied  scenery  and  field 
sports,  the  almost  sacred  character  of  the  rights  of  property  in  the 
eyes  of  its  people,  and  the  admirable  combination  of  liberty  and  order 
which  is  preserved  under  its  political  constitution.  Men  will  pay  for 
these  advantages,  when  they  can  afford  it,  a  price  which  is  not  measur- 
ed by  the  ordinary  rates  of  profit. 

"  Besides  this  competition,  which  raises  the  rate  of  rent,  the  fanner 
must  now  meet  in  his  own  market  the  produce  of  lower-priced  foreign 
lands.  He  will,  no  doubt,  always  have  the  cost  of  transport  in  his 
favor,  and  this  would  generally  be  sufficient  to  balance  the  difference 
of  rent ;  but  the  land  of  this  country  cannot  be  cultivated  without 
manure,  and  the  farmers  of  those  foreign  countries  whose  soil  is  rich 
enough  to  yield  corn  for  many  years  without  manure,  are  thereby  able 
to  undersell  the  British  producer  in  his  own  market.  The  cost  of 
labor  when  the  value  of  food  of  the  working  stock  is  calculated,  is  near- 


52 

ly  the  same  at  home  and  abroad,  and  superior  fertility  alone  will  be 
found  to  turn  the  advantage  in  favor  of  the  foreign  producer. 

"  The  special  adaptation  of  Britain  for  the  production  of  live  stock, 
and  the  constantly  increasing  demand  for  that  branch  of  the  farmer's 
produce,  have  hitherto  modified  the  effects  of  foreign  competition  in 
corn.  But  even  these,  excellent  though  they  have  proved,  cannot  per- 
manently counteract  the  cause  of  the  farmer's  diminished  profits  :  viz., 
home  competition  for  the  possession  of  land.  The  soil  here  is  now 
becoming  more  valuable  for  other  purposes  than  ordinary  fanning,  and 
the  proportion  between  the  producers  and  consumers  of  food  is  under- 
going a  rapid  change.  It  appears  from  the  Census  that,  in  1851,  only 
16  per  cent,  of  the  adult  population  of  England  was  occupied  in  the 
business  of  agriculture.  During  the  previous  twenty  years  the  propor- 
tion had  fallen  from  28  to  16  per  cent.,  from  no  actual  decrease  of  the 
numbers  employed  in  agriculture,  but  from  the  far  greater  proportional 
increase  of  trade.  The  same  gradual  change  is  going  on.  At  this 
time  there  is  probably  not  more  than  one-tenth  of  the  adult  population 
of  England  employed  in  the  culture  of  the  land.  The  manufacturing, 
mining,  and  town  populations  are  thus  gradually  absorbing  the  business 
of  the  country,  increasing  the  value  of  the  land,  the  profits  of  the  land- 
owner, but  in  the  same  proportion  diminishing  the  area  left  for  ordinary 
fanning. 

"  The  time  seems  thus  to  have  arrived  when  the  farmers  must  thin 
the  ranks  of  home  competition  by  sending  off  the  young  and  enter- 
prising to  countries  where  they  may  become  the  owners  of  a  fertile 
soil,  and  profitably  contribute  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  old  country, 
whose  land  can  no  longer  meet  the  demands  of  her  dense  population. 
During  the  last  year  we  have  imported  into  this  country  at  the  rate  of 
nearly  one  million  quarters  of  grain  each  month.  We  have  thus  in 
addition  to  our  home  crop,  consumed  each  day  the  produce  of  TEN 
THOUSAND  acres  of  foreign  land,  a  demand  so  vast  as  to  offer  to  young 
men  of  our  own  country  the  strongest  inducements  to  take  their  share 
in  its  supply. 

"Having,  during  last  autumn,  had  an  opportunity  of  making  a 
pretty  careful  inspection  of  a  part  of  the  valley  of  the  Upper  Missis- 
sippi, probably  the  most  fertile  corn  region  in  the  world,  I  have  col- 
lected for  publication,  in  the  form  of  a  series  of  letters,  the  notes  made 
by  me  at  the  time.  There  may  be  other  countries  which  present  equal- 
ly good  prospects  to  the  agricultural  emigrant.  I  venture  to  speak 
only  of  that  which  I  have  seen.  This  seems  to  me  to  offer  the  very 


53 

field  which  we  want  at  present, — a  virgin  soil  of  easy  culture,  with 
no  forests  to  clear,  of  extraordinary  natural  fertility,  in  a  country 
traversed  by  a  most  perfect  system  of  railways,  where  no  settler  need 
be  more  than  ten  miles  from  a  station,  whose  shore  is  washed  by  one 
of  those  great  lakes  through  which  an  outlet  is  found  to  the  Atlantic, 
and  which  possesses  in  the  Mississippi  itself  a  vast  artery  of  commerce, 
navigable  by  steamers  for  thousands  of  miles.  A  great  part  of  the 
country  is  underlaid  with  coal,  iron,  and  lime,  thus  affording  a  present 
supply  of  such  minerals,  and  the  prospect  of  a  great  increase  of  value 
should  the  people  ever  turn  their  attention  to  manufactures.  There  is 
a  complete  organization  of  markets  throughout  the  country  ;  and,  set- 
ting aside  the  export  to  England,  there  is  a  very  large  and  increasing 
local  demand  for  every  article  of  agricultural  produce.  The  price  of 
labor  is  economized  by  the  most  extensive  and  profitable  use  of  agri 
cultural  machinery,  and  by  the  comparatively  small  cost  of  maintain- 
ing horses  and  working  cattle.  The  grazing  of  cattle  and  sheep  is 
very  profitable,  and  the  production  of  merino  wool,  already  large, 
admits  of  vast  increase. 

"  The  fee  simple  of  this  land  can  be  purchased  at  from  40s.  to  50s. 
and  60s.  [from  $8  to  $14]  an  acre. 

"  As  a  mere  investment,  this  land  would  pay  well  to  purchase  and 
hold  for  a  few  years,  and  the  increasing  supply  of  gold,  of  which 
America  herself  yields  an  annual  crop  of  ten  millions  sterling,  will 
every  year  contribute  to  the  higher  relative  value  of  land  here  and 
elsewhere.  But  the  British  emigrant,  when  he  purchases  this  land, 
secures  to  himself  not  only  the  profits  of  farming  it,  but  has  also  the 
growing  increase  in  the  value  of  the  land  itself,  a  right  to  which  he 
can  have  no  share  at  home.  The  country  is  now  brought  within  a  fort- 
night's journey  from  our  shores,  and  is  actually  more  accessible  from 
Great  Britain  than  most  parts  of  Ireland  were  fifty  years  ago." 

"  There  are  two  branches  of  his  business  to  which  I  would  specially 
ask  the  attention  of  the  British  emigrant  to  Illinois,  viz.  stock  farming, 
and  the  cultivation  of  Indian  corn.  Full  details  will  be  found  on  both 
subjects  in  these  letters.  A  good  stock  of  cattle  or  sheep  can  be 
bought  by  a  comparatively  small  outlay  of  capital ;  and,  so  long  as  the 
open  prairie  is  thinly  settled,  grass  for  half  the  year  may  be  had  for 
nothing,  and  hay  for  the  other  half  for  only  the  cost  of  saving  it.  Tn 
regard  to  Indian  corn,  both  climate  and  soil  are  more  suitable  to  it 
than  wheat.  It  can  be  grown  to  any  extent,  with  a  certain  measure  of 
success,  every  year,  and,  unlike  wheat,  this  grain  may  be  harvest <>il 


54 

with  safety  over  a  period  of  many  weeks.  A  small  and  regular  sup- 
ply of  labor  thus  suffices  for  the  management  of  a  large  extent  of  land. 
There  is  always  a  market  for  it,  and  the  lowest  price  at  which  we  have 
ever  seen  it  in  England  will  afford  a  very  good  return  to  the  prairie 
farmer  of  Illinois,  after  deducting  all  the  charges  of  transporting. 

"  An  emigrant  from  this  country  may  be  set  down  in  Illinois  at  a 
total  cost  from  Liverpool  or  Glasgow  of  61.  7s.,  [about  $30]  inclusive 
of  provisions. 

"  The  present  is  a  most  favorable  time  for  commencing  to  farm  in 
Illinois.  The  panic  of  1857  has  not  yet  been  forgotten,  and  the 
prices  at  which  every  sort  of  contract  (building,  fencing,  ploughing,) 
may  be  executed,  are  50  per  cent,  below  the  average  rates." 


THE  LANDS  AND  HOMES  OF  THE  WEST. 
{From  the  New  York  Tribune,  April  21st,  1858.] 

As  an  almost  unprecedented  immigration  is  going  forward  to  the  rich 
and  fertile  prairies  of  the  West,  from  the  exhausted  soils  and  over- 
crowded cities  of  the  East,  in  consequence  of  the  late  commercial  and 
business  crisis,  it  is  important  to  the  farmer,  the  mechanic,  and  the  la- 
borer, who  contemplates  changing  his  home,  to  note  the  following  facts  : 

1.  No  State  in  the  Valley  of  the  Mississippi  offers  so  great  induce- 
ments to  the  settler  as  the  State  of  Illinois.     Forming  a  part  of  that  pro- 
lific belt  which  extends  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Missouri  river,  and  in- 
cludes the  States  of  Pennsylvania,  Maryland,  Ohio,  Indiana,  Iowa,  and 
Northern  Missouri,  it  holds  a  commanding  and  central  position ;  while 
the  great  lake  on  one  side,  and  the  great  rivers  on  the  other,  give  it 
easy  and  equal  access  to  the  North,  the  South,  the  East  and  the  West. 

2.  The  climate,  removed  alike  from  the  rigorous  severity  of  the 
more  northern  States,  and  the  oppressive  heats  of  the  more  southern, 
is  both  salubrious  and  agreeable.     According  to  the  federal  census  of 
1850,  the  rate  of  mortality  in  Illinois  is  less  than  in  several  of  the 
New  England  States.     The  soil,  composed  of  a  deep,  rich  loam,  is  as 
fertile  as  any  on  the  globe.     It  is,  for  the  most  part,  so  easily  worked — 
requiring  no  grubbing  up  of  stumps  and  picking  off  of  stones — that 
the  labor  of  one  man  is  as  effective,  commonly,  as  that  of  two  or  three 
men  on  the  rockier  soils  of  the  East,  and  far  more  productive.     One 
man  on  the  prairies  can  break  from  two  to  three  acres,  and  afterward 
plough  from  six  to  eight  acres  per  day,  while  in  the  East  he  can  only 
break  from  one-half  to  one  acre  per  day,  and  plough  from  two  to  three 
acres  afterward.     The  yield    of    the  prairies,  at  the    same  time,   is 
nearly  three-fold   greater.     In  fact,  Illinois  was  long  ago  designated 
by  popular  instinct  as  the  Garden  State  of  the  West ;    and  now  that  it 


55 

has  been  brought  so  extensively  under  cultivation,  it  more  tlian  ever 
deserves  the  name. 

3.  Illinois  is  not  a  frontier  State,  in  which  the  settler  is  exposed  to 
the  severe  privations  and  hardships  of  early  settlement,  but  it  contains 
tfver  a  million  and   a  half  of  residents,  numerous  cities,  towns,  and 
villages,  and  2775  miles  of  completed  railway,  which  is  more  than  any 
other  State   of  the  Union  has,  with  the   exception  of  New  York  and 
Ohio.     Ninety  millions  of   dollars  have  been  expended  on  works  of 
internal  improvement,  without  resorting  to  a  State  debt,  and  to  conse- 
quent taxation;  and  1,800,000  acres  of  land  have  been  devoted  to 
purposes   of    education    and   general    utility.       These   improvements 
will  supply  a  revenue  to  the  State  for  the  public  expenditures  for  all 
time  to  come,  and  consequently  taxation  will  be  merely  nominal. 

4.  It  is  often  said   that  Illinois  is  unwoodcd ;  but  the  fact  is,  that 
there  is  scarcely  a  county  in  the  State  without  considerable  forests, 
while  the   southern  part  of  it  alone  contains  2,000,000  acres  of   tim- 
ber.    In  the  year  1857  there  was  brought  into  Chicago  460,000,000 
feet  of  lumber.     Chicago  is   also  the  greatest  grain  depository  in  the 
world,  and  is  the  terminus  of  3953   miles  of  finished  railway.     In 
different  parts  of   the   State,  iron,  coal,   and  fine  building  stone  are 
found  in  abundance. 

5.  Nowhere  can  excellent  land  be  procured  on  more  favorable  terms 
than  in  Illinois.     The  Central  Railroad  Company,  to  which  the  State 
granted  the  2,590,000  acres  which  had  been  donated  by  the  General 
Government — extending  through  the  centre  of  the  State,  north  and 
south,  fifteen  miles  on  each  side  of   the  railroad — having  disposed  of 
1,200,000  acres,  offers  the  rest  at  moderate  prices,  on  long  credits  and 
moderate   rates  of   interest.     The  prices  vary  from  $6   to  $30,  and 
the  credits  extend  over  a  period  of  seven  years. 

6.  There  are  on  the  line  of  the  Central  Railroad  100  cities  and  vil- 
lages, with  populations  varying  from  200  to  12,000  souls — with  facto- 
ries,  mills,    stores,    post-offices,    schools,    and   churches — all   rapidly 
growing  in  numbers  and  wealth,  and  affording  the  comforts  of  civil- 
ized life  to  the  settler,  while  they  open  every  opportunity  and  prospect 
of  business  to  the  mechanic  and  trader.     The  counties  contiguous  to 
the  road  embrace  a  population  of  over  600,000,  for  the  most  part 
thrifty,  enterprising,  and  industrious. 

7.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  lands  of  Illinois  are  largely  peopled 
and  cultivated ;  their  products  are  within  easy  reach  of  all  the  great 
western  centres  of  trade,  and  may  be  transported,  by  way  of  the  lake, 
to  the  Eastern   markets,  at   less   cost  than  from   many  intermediate 
points  ;  and  though  these  lands  are  now  sold  for  from  $6  to  $30  per 
acre,  they  must  inevitably  advance  to  $50,  and  even  $100,  within  a 
few  years.     Lands  that  were  lately  sold  by  the   Company  for   $15  or 
^'25  per  acre  will  now  bring  from  $50  to  $100.     The  Illinois  Central 
Company  gives  no   encouragement  to  speculative   purchasers,  for  its 
own  interests  prompt  it  to  prefer  the   actual  settler,  who  raises  the 
value  of  neighboring  lands,  and  contributes  to  the  traffic  of  the  road. 


A\ 


Of 


IS     Oil     tllC 


H 

*o 

i 

a 

•d 
§ 

1 
S 

1853 

1835 
1828 
1850 
1854 
1850 
1852 
1853 
1850 
1838 

1855 

1854 
1855 
1839 
1850 
1855 
1853 

1839 
1850 
1855 
1856 
1854 
1853 
1857 
1853 
1836 
1832 
1856 
1853 
1845 
1855 

1829 
1854 
1853 
1855 
1855 
1855 
1851 
1820 
is;,. 
1855 
1854 

Inhabitants, 
1850. 

Inhabitants, 

1856. 

Inhabitants, 
1859. 

Houses,  1856. 

I-H 
1 

Churches,  1859. 

0 

f 

1" 

OQ 

gj 
•j. 

?/ 

Flour  Mills,  1859. 

3 

j 

£ 
a 

1 
1 

Acres  in  Wheat, 
1858.  | 

1 

F 

Acres  in  Corn, 

1855. 

Northern  Division. 
Dunleith,*t  

5 
No 
6,000 
300 
14 
None 
25 
None 
6 
18 
1,400 
No 
None 
No 
None 
None 
640 
16 
None 
None 
No 
200 
3 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
25 
2,200 
None 
None 
800 
None 
No 
600 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
360 
None 
None 
None 

1,800 
town 
12,000 
500 
292 
200 
800 
400 
350 
750 
6,000 
town 
153 
town 
2,500 
105 
4,500 
2,500 
1,098 
1,400 
town 
7,250 
240 
1,200 
70 
130 
195 
None 
208 
110 
7,000 
200 
350 
1,600 
28 
town 
4,000 
28 
400 
40 
850 
8( 

1.60C 

23 
80 
120 

2,000 
laid 
15,000 
800 
300 
250 
1,100 
600 
750 
250 
7,000 
laid 
425 
laid 
3,500 
123 
3,500 
3,000 
1,300 
3,000 
laid 
8,100 
800 
600 
170 
180 
250 
600 
165 
212 
8,500 
300 
400 
2,600 
130 
laid 
7,000 
30 
375 
400 
798 
117 
150 
1,800 
55 
60 
400 

2,600 
out 
2,500 
120 
40 
40 
150 
78 
116 
150 
1,600 
out 
30 
out 
600 
30 
515 
350 
158 
242 
out 
1,550 
60 
300 
12 
28 
39 
None 
47 
23 
2,986 
20 
73 
350 
3 
out 
800 

150 
7 
86 
22 
10 
265 
3 
5 
30 

30C 
yet. 
3,100 
75 
60 
56 
325 
104 
150 
62 
1,800 
yet. 
101 
yet. 
750 
33 
550 
380 
300 
700 
yet. 
1,960 
150 
100 
26 
35 
45 
120 
48 
42 
3,200 
64 
80 
500 
21 
yet. 
1,150 

8E 
40 
171 
22 
30 
300 
10 
14 
60 

2 

18 
2 

•2 
2 
2 
4 
5 
2 
11 

1 

6 

7 
4 
•2 

7 

10 
3 

2 
.1 
1 
1 
1 

2 
16 
1 

1 
8 
1 

i:; 

3 

2 
2 

.1 
4 

1 

2 

25 
1 

2 

1 

S 
4 

"2 
I 
11 

1 

1 

(i 
3 
9 
6 

15 
4 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 
'21 
1 
1 
(i 
1 

7 

1 

1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 
1 

15 

21.'i 

2 
8 
3 

19 

8 

8 
4 
70 

6 

85 
8 
68 

~2 
40 

HJO 
8 
6 
1 
4 
6 
6 

125 
2 
8 

'20 
8 

98 
1 

12 
5 
13 
6 
8 
18 

4 
4 

7 

21 
8 

'2 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 
9 

2 

4 
1 
6 
3 

7 

7 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
3 
1 

12 
2 
2 
8 
1 

9 

2 

1 
4 

8 

4 
1 
1 
5 

8 
8 

'2 

4 

2 
1 

2 

1 
1 

4 

1 

2 
2 
1 

1 

2 

1 
1 

1 

1 
8 

3 

4 
1 
8 
2 

1 

1 
1 

1 

8 

1 

2 

4 

1 
1 

1 

2 
1 

4 
11 

1 
12 
8 

8 
8 

1 
1 

15 

2 

4' 
1 

11 

J 

1 
1 

1 

1,000 
200 
13,000 
7,000 
6,900 
3,000 
6,000 
10,500 
5,000 
8,000 
22,000 
6,000 
9,000 
3.000 
12,000 
1,450 
20,000 
22,000 
3,800 
25,200 
6,000 
7,000 
21,500 
25,000 
4,360 
6,700 
18,000 
1,000 
12,740 

10,000 

4",  000 
20,000 
11,200 
2,500 
«,500 
1,200 
24,000 
3,000 
25,000 
2,000 
2,000 
1,300 
6,200 
1,000 
1,500 
400 
300 

1,000 
500 
15,300 
2,000 
5,300 
7,000 
8,000 
20,000 
8,000 
10,000 
45,000 
11,000 
20,000 
8,000 
18,000 
2,000 
8,600 
9,000 
12,600 
65,000 
17,000 
11,000 
23,500 
60,000 
11,600 
40,000 
30,000 
15,000 
7,500 
16,950 
70,000 
20,000 
30000 
23,000 
8,000 
3,000 
50,000 
4,000 
50,000 
15,000 
8,000 
4,000 
12,000 
12,000 
4,000 
3,000 
2,000 

1,600 
600 
17,400 
2,000 
5,700 
8,000 
10,000 
30,000 
8,000 
12,000 
50.000 
15,000 
25,000 
4,000 
20,000 
3,270 
5,340 
10,500 
25,000 
60,000 
8,000 
9,000 
24,500 
70,000 
12,000 
50,000 
32,000 
13,000 
8,480 
18,540 
70,000 
25,000 
35,000 
12,000 
4,000 
4,200 
40,000 
2,000 
30,000 
18,000 
6,000 
4,000 
10,000 
14,000 
5,000 
4,000 
4,000 

300 
100 
1,000 
4,000 
10,400 
2,500 
6,000 
6,200 
2,000 
4,0'  ,0 
15.000 
7,000 
6,500 
2,000 
9,000 
3800 
24,000 
34000 
8.060 
32,400 
9,000 
20,000 
28.500 
20,300 
8,000 

12',000 
2,000 
30,100 
20,000 
45,000 

2l'5'M) 
32,000 
4,000 
3,000 
60,000 
500 
4,000 
4,000 
12,000 
20,000 
15,600 
4,000 
3,000 
1,800 
1,400 

Mt'nominee,  

Council  Hill,  
Scales  Mound,*  
Apple  River,*  

Warren,  t*  

Nora,*  

Eleroy,  

Freeport.t*  

<  'rane's  Grove,  

Forreston,*  

Haldane,  , 

Polo,t*  

Woosung,  

Dixon,t*  

Amboy,*t  

Sublette,*  

Mcndota,t*.. 

Homer,  

LaSalle,t*  

Tonioa,  

Wenona,*  

Rutland,*  

Minouk,*  

Panola,'  

El  Paso,t*  

Kappa,*  

Hudson,*  ,.  .  .  . 

Bloomington,t*  
Heyworth,*  

Wapella,t*  

Clinton,t*  

Maroa,*  

Forsyth,  

Decatur,t*  

Macon,*  

Moaweqna,*  

Assumption  ,*  

Pana,t*  

Oconoe,*  

Ramsey,*  

Vandalia,t*  

Shobonier,*  

Patoka,*  

Sandoval,t*  

442,390 

816,750 

846,030 

567,060 

tions  supplied  with  Maps  of  vacant  lands  belonging  to  the  Railroad  Company,  with  prices.    Parties  -wishing 
ine  lands  belonging  to  the  Company  can  ap 


*  Stations  sup4 

to  examine  lands  belonging  to  the  Company  can  apply  to  the  Eailroad  Station  Agents  for  information  and  assistance. 
_Yo  other  agencies  are  recognized  by  the  Land  Department. 

t  Telegraph  Stations. 


The  above  tables  are  intended  to  set  forth  the  condition  of  the  railroad  Towns,  with  the  territo- 
ries tributary  to  them,  on  or  about  July  1, 1859.  At  some  of  the  stations,  small  settlements  existed 
before  the  organization  of  a  town,  which  accounts  for  population  appearing  on  the  statement,  in  a 
few  instances,  before  the  date  given  for  its  organization. 

In  making  up  the  returns  for  1856,  a  few  of  the  agents  sent  in  statistics  of  population  and  build- 
ings embraced  in  a  whole  township,  as  if  contained  in  the  town  limits  only.  These  errors  have 
been  corrected  in  the  returns  for  1859,  and  therefore  the  tables  show  an  apparent  decrease  in  tho 
prosperity  of  some  places,  such  as  Council-Hill,  Wenona,  Manteno,  Chebanse,  Jonesboro',  &c. ; 
whereas,  the  increase  at  these  points  has  been  really  very  considerable.  The  floating  population 
of  laborers,  &c.,  is  also  reckoned  in  these  returns,  and  this  may  bo  distributed  at  any  time  to  other 
points.  It  does  not,  however,  materially  affect  the  general  result. 


57 


Illinois 


a 

a      1               >» 

a 

E 

s" 

wo 

W>0° 

<a<* 

•30 

t 

1 

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O 

0 

CS     ~ 

ps1"! 

is 

kg 

rM 

L 

c3 

1    .1    1 

•fs 

.5S8 

fc  § 

&  S 

*1 

If 

SM 

a  e 

Is 

(Sri 

1  a  l 

i 

1 

U  S. 

K  S, 

Jw 

3 

3 

§0       *o 

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^ 

o 

I 

1 

W 

P 

s 

250 

1,000 

2 

5 

10 

$3,000 

85,500 

1,500 

3,000 

Germany  and  Ireland. 

300 

400 

1 

3 

2 

2,000 

5,000 

200 

250 

New  England. 

1.560 

1,980 

19 

12 

5 

104,400 

223,300 

35,000 

45,000 

New  York  and  New  England. 

2,000 

3,000 

50 

25,000          30,000 

400 

650 

England. 

8,000 

9,400 

72 

13 

11 

65,000 

86,000 

2,500 

3,600 

England  and  Germany. 

2,500 

3,000 

70 

10 

4 

20,000 

30.000 

140 

250 

British  Islands. 

8,000 

9,000 

50 

75 

25 

10,600 

20,000 

450 

2,500 

Ohio  and  New  York. 

20,000 

30,000 

80 

18 

10 

19,500 

82.500 

400 

1,100 

New  York. 

2,000 

4,000 

17 

20 

12 

200,000 

300,000 

4,f'00 

5,000 

Vermont. 

9.000 

12,000 

13 

6 

8 

3300 

23,100 

225 

800 

Ireland  and  Germany. 

40,000 

45,000 

65 

100 

100 

120,600 

200,000 

15,000 

30,000 

New  England. 

53,000 

12,000 

10 

7 

2 

35,000 

50,00  ) 

250 

325 

New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

14,000 

18,000 

49 

41 

50 

45,000 

125,000 

90 

425 

Pennsylvania. 

7,000 

8,000 

17 

4 

2 

25,000 

30,000 

40 

110 

New  York  and  Massachusetts. 

11.000 

12,000 

60 

100 

200 

20,000 

50,000 

6,000 

12,000 

New  York  and  Maryland. 

3,000 

5,200 

34 

17 

4 

4,000 

20,000 

54 

425 

New  England. 

7,500 

10,680 

80 

10 

25 

191.600 

186,100 

4,107 

7,602 

Pennsylvania. 

7,000 

8,500 

70 

35 

30 

60,000 

100,000 

8,000 

10,500 

New  England. 

15,000 

30,000 

8 

20 

50 

200.000 

450.000 

2,000 

3,000 

New  York. 

60,000 

70,000 

100 

150 

75 

15,000 

45,000 

1.800 

5,000 

Ohio  and  Germany. 

20,000 

18,000 

34 

11 

4 

19,000 

25,000 

'300 

450 

Ohio  and  Pennsylvania. 

30,000 

35,000 

125 

20 

30 

80,000 

360,000 

10,000 

12,000 

Ireland  and  Germany. 

50.500 

85,500 

180 

100 

100 

150,000 

200,000 

1,000 

2,800 

New  England. 

3o;ooo 

40,000 

100 

75 

75 

40,000 

50,000 

1,200 

6,000 

Middle  States. 

6,500 

13,800 

128 

60 

20 

5,000 

95,000 

57 

1,200 

Vermont. 

15,000 

25,000 

179 

150 

75 

8,000 

60,000 

200 

2,000 

Middle  States. 

16,000 

30,000 

100 

20 

30 

100,000 

100,000 

2,500 

3,000 

New  York. 

30,000 

54,500 

73 

15 

20 

12,000 

50,000 

60 

450 

New  York. 

15,000 

12,000 

60 

15 

6 

60,000 

40,000 

2,000 

1,800 

Ohio. 

24,000 

31,220 

21 

35 

20 

50,000 

80,000 

1,200 

2,400 

Ohio. 

65,000 

95,000 

400 

2CO 

200 

500,000 

1,250,000 

13,  000 

24,000 

Ohio  and  Kentucky. 

30,000 

35.000 

70 

25 

10 

75.000 

125,000 

1.4001  2>00 

Ohio. 

40,000 

60,000 

140 

20 

100 

300,000 

1,000,000 

3.000 

6,000 

Ohio  and  Kentucky. 

20,000 

25,000 

75 

25 

20 

378,000 

600.000 

8,500 

11,500 

Ohio  and  Kentucky. 

4,000 

12,000 

26 

20 

10 

15.000 

60,000 

400 

1,500 

Illinois  and  Ohio. 

7,000 

18,000 

19 

5 

2 

10,000 

35,000 

60 

480 

Pennsylvania  and  Kentucky. 

70,000 

100,000 

100 

100 

50 

160,000 

250,000 

6,000 

12,000 

Pennsylvania  and  Ohio. 

600 

2,000 

38 

6 

1 

12,000 

20,000 

75 

200 

New  York. 

5,000 

40,000 

30 

60 

20 

172,000 

400,000 

750 

4,000 

Kentucky. 

18,000 

20,000 

25 

30 

40 

60,000 

180,000 

59 

4,000 

Canada  and  Louisiana. 

20,000 

30,000 

25 

65 

20 

253,000 

344,800 

250 

1,482 

Eastern  States.  • 

20,000 

25,000 

15 

3 

65,000 

200,000 

1,000 

1,500 

Tennessee  and  Kentu«ky. 

20,000 

23,500 

6 

10 

6 

149,700 

295,200 

5 

150 

Tennessee  and  Kentucky. 

10,000 

12,000 

20 

25 

10 

20,000 

60,000 

5,000 

9.000 

Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

3,000 

5,000 

15 

17 

21 

10,000 

30,000 

l,i  >00 

Ohio  and  New  York. 

4,000 

8,000 

*j 

6 

14 

15,000 

18,000 

300 

500 

Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

1,500 

1,500 

10 

15 

20 

50,000 

120,000 

1,500 

1,800 

Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Tennessee. 

786,210 

1,100,180 

$3,937,600 

$8,099,500 

The  statistics  of  the  Towns  proper  are  embraced  in  the  first  thirteen  columns ;  the 
remaining  fourteen  having  reference  to  the  territory  fairly  to  be  considered  as  tributary  to 
each  station. 

The  areas  in  cultivation  have  been  estimated  by  parties  at  each  station  well  acquainted 
vnth  the  surrounding  country,  and  reference  has  been  made  to  the  assessors'  books  whenever 
this  was  practicable.  The  valuations  of  stock  have  generally  been  obtained  from  this  source, 
and  should  be  considered  as  varying  from  thirty-three  to  fifty  per  cent,  below  the  true 
value.  In  some  localities,  owing  to  the  establishment  of  new  Stations,  part  of  the  territo- 
ry included  in  the  previous  returns  from  one  Station,  has  been  transferred  to  another. 

Corn  and  Wheat  being  the  great  staples  of  Illinois,  the  most  prominent  positions  have 
":ecn  assigned  to  these  products.  In  the  Northern  part  of  the  State,  Oats  is  an  important 
product  of  agriculture,  in  some  localities  occupying  an  equal  area  in  its  cultivation  with 
either  Corn  or  Wheat.  So,  also,  of  Fruit,  in  the  Southern  part.  About  Makanda,  for 
instance,  over  10,000  acres  are  planted  with  peach  trees;  and  in  1858, 150rOOO  bushels  of 
peaches  were  shipped  from  Cobden  station  alone;  while  the  shipments  of  this  season  will 


58 

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168 

600 
800 
34 
750 
3640 
600 
None 
50 
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320 
110 

174 

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Chicago  Division. 

1838 
1853 
1856 
1853 
IS50 
1856 
1854 
1853 
1854 
1857 
1*55 
1857 
1854 
1852 
1S.7J 
1855 
1857 
1855 
1856 
1835 
1856 
1854 
1857 
1855 
1857 
1855 
1856 
1855 
1856 
1855 
1856 
1856 

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1856 
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1853 
1854 
1840 
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1857 
1853 
1854 
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1854 
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1818 
1857 
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1854 
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1854 

1853 

60 
None 
None 
10 
146 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
15 

None 
None 
None 
None 
500 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 

None 
None 
None 
65 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
None 
14 
None 
684 
Vone 
Vone 
tfone 
^fone 
tfone 

300 

50 
260 
98 
1,000 
840 
24 
600 

66 
31 

47 
80 
8 
200 
820 
125 
None 
6 
None 
64 
15 

31 

4 

21 
367 
None 
6 
None 
4 
2 
113 
£ 
41 
6 

1 

275 
156 
100 
24 
17 

40 
80 
110 
4 
2 
263 
None 
23 
33 
30 
12 

400 

6 
68 

24 
251 
87 
9 
74 
!)4f 
J7 

a 

4f 
35 
12f 
2f 
; 

131 
65 
8 
IS 
!)5f 
IK 
9 
3( 
7( 
6 
4<X 
27 
CO 
7 
47 
8 
8 
73 

4 

2(iii 

;25 
25o 
150 
2li 
lOli 

71 

300 
175 
220 
8 
37 
120 
24 
34 
86 
30 
25 

590 

1 

8 

l 

1 

j 

1 

l 

i 
1 

S 

: 

2 
3 
1 
% 

1 

8 

P> 
2 
2 
J 

1 

2 

2 
2 

1 
1 

2 
1 

1 

4 

\ 
1 
7 
6 
1 
1 
!» 
1 
.1 
2 
1 

2 
1 

1 
6 

1 
1 
1 

2 

8 
1 
I 
1 
1 

1 
1 

2 
2 
8 
2 
1 
1 
1 
4 
2 
8 

1 
1 
8 
1 
1 
1 

3 
3 
5 
(j 
1 
8 
50 
3 
2 

8 

11 
i 

i 

s 

6 

1 
3 
54 
6 
2 
6 
6 
1 
30 
3 
8 
2 
7 
2 
2 
7 

5 

in 
9 
6 

4 
12 
2 
J2 
8 
1C 
2 
4 
9 
5 
1 
3 
1 
3 

60 

' 

] 

• 
t> 

2 

« 
1 
1 

t; 
* 

n 
A 

< 

l 

8 
« 

1 
2 

.' 
1 
I 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 

1 
1 

7 
2 
8 

4 
1 
3 
8 
8 
1 
1 
2 
1 
1 
8 
2 
1 

20 

1 

1 

1 

2 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

f) 

1 

7 
3 

O 

O 

1 
1 

1 

1 
1 

J 

2 

1 
1 

1 

1 
1 

2 
1 

1 

1 
1 
2 
2 

1 

2 

1 

2 

1 

7 

1 
1 

8 

2 

1 

1 

2 

15 
2 
7 

10 

2 
4 
15 

3 
1 

10 

200 

700 
1,200 
800 
700 
3,500 
10,600 
6,000 
260 
1,000 
6,250 
300 
3,000 
1,000 
600 
400 
2,000 
210 
4,240 
5,680 
2,600 
3,140 
2,800 
1,500 
1,000 
2,000 
3,000 
6,000 
500 
4,000 
1,500 
3,000 
800 
1,800 
740 
2,000 
1.5CO 
3,COO 
2,000 
1,000 
4,200 
2,400 
2,000 
4,320 
3,000 
4,200 
7,000 
21,000 
9,000 
7,200 
1,000 
3,000 
2,000 

200 
1,040 
4,000 
4,000 
2,240 
2,600 
11,000 
31,000 
10,000 
2,000 
12,000 
500 
5,000 
2,500 
1,700 
2,600 
4,000 
800 
4,000 
20,000 
10,000 
8,000 
6,400 
60,000 
3,000 
8,000 
4,000 
10,000 
500 
6,000 
5,000 
6,000 
1,000 
12,000 
1,800 
3,000 
12,000 
20,000 
8,000 
4,300 
8,000 
3,240 
6,000 
6,000 
5,000 
10,000 
7,000 
16,000 
12,000 
7,000 
1,000 
8,000 
5,060 

100 

1,200 
4,750 
4,500 
2,400 
3,000 
11,000 
43,000 
15,000 
4,000 
6,000 
2,000 
12,000 
3,000 
2,000 
1,300 
15,000 
1,000 
6,700 
20,000 
12,000 
12,000 
10,500 
60,000 
3,000 
6,000 
3,000 
18,000 
500 
8,000 
6,500 
9,370 
6,600 
10,000 
2,000 
4,000 
14,500 
20,000 
10,000 
4,300 
9000 
3,030 
6,600 
6,500 
6,000 
6,000 
8,000 
23,000 
15,000 
7,000 
2,000 
9,000 
7,000 

600 
1,100 
2,000 
3,000 
4,500 
3400 
14,500 
10,000 
1,500 
3,000 
1,800 
700 
8,100 
2,340 
800 
300 
16,000 
2,460 
2,000 
12,000 
6,000 
4,270 
3,700 
60,000 
16,000 
65,000 
42,000 
12,000 
2,000 
17,000 
11,000 
10,000 
5,000 
9,400 
14,000 
12,000 
6,000 
35,600 
8,000 
8,000 
18,000 
3,240 
12,400 
12,000 
6,200 
4,500 
12,000 
43,000 
10,000 
6,000 
25,000 
4,100 
4,000 

Thornton,*  

Kichton      

Monee  t*  

Kankakee,t*  

4,900 
70 
175 
444 
130 
600 
140 
17 
900 
400 
39 
90 
4,000 
550 
60 
105 
350 
31 
1,400 
130 
300 
40 
200 
48 
60 
300 

40 

650 
2,500 
1,200 
1,000 
121 
400 
648 
1,200 
800 
1,100 
43 
150 
700 
150 
185 
325 
201 
72 

5,200 

Clifton,*  

Ashkum,*  

Gilman,t*  

Spring  Creek,  

Bulkley,*  .  .  .  .  

Loda  *  

Paxton.t*  

15 

28 
125 
3,285 
None 
33 
None 
20 

472 
16 
200 
25 

G 

1,900 
718 
300 
113 
60 

300 
500 
700 
50 
6 
1,209 

Pera,*  

Rantoul,*  

Pesotum,*  

Tuscola,*  

Okaw,*  

Milton,*  

Mattoon,t*  

Neo<*a,*  

KfBncham,t*  

Watson,  

Mason,  

Pklgewood,*  

Farina,*  

K.inmundy,t*  

iTonti,*...  

Odin,f*  

Centralia,t*  

Richview.*  

Ashley,t*  

Coloma,*  

Tamaroa,*  

St.  John's,  t  

Du  Quoin,t*  

De  Soto.*  

Carbondale,t*  

Makanda,*  

Cobden,*  

Jonesboro',t*  

Dongola.  .  .  . 

Wetang  '  . 

120 
250 
150 
96 

3,000 

Ullin.*   

ljulaski,t*  

Villa  Ridge,  
fMound  City  Junc'n 
llCairo.t*  

160,840 

393,320 

473,250 

595,510 

J  Town  laid  out,  but  no  improvements  yet  made.    J  A  few  houses  only,  occupied  by  Irish  laborers,  tc.    No 
town  laid  out  yet.    No  agricultural  country  tributary  to  it.    |  No  agricultural  country  tributary  to  it. 

probably  considerably  exceed  that  amount.  Jonesboro'  also  ships  large  quantities  of  peaches, 
as  well  as  vegetables  and  berries  from  the  extensive  market  gardens  located  near  the  town. 
About  1,500  hogsheads  of  tobacco  will  be  shipped  this  season  from  Makanda  station. 

Extensive  Coal  mines  are  worked  at  La  Salle,  St.  John's  and  Du  Quoin  stations  ;  also  at 
Bryant,  on  the  Great  Western  Railroad,  about  thirty  miles  east  of  Tolono  station. 


59 


Illinois 


V 

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|  V  * 

M 

W 

H 

H 

S 

1,000 

1,000 

10 

10 

16 

$6,000 

$10,000 

150 

250 

Holland  and  Germany. 

3,000 

4,500 

9 

8 

13 

14,000 

21,000 

430 

1,250 

Germany. 

5,0.0 

5,500 

32 

6 

5 

20,000 

35,000 

600 

700 

Germany. 

6,000 

7,000 

10 

12 

14 

35,ilOO 

80,000 

350 

1,000 

Germany. 

7,600 

7,800 

11 

9 

6 

20,000 

80,000 

350 

840 

Connecticut  and  Germany. 

6,000 

6,000 

8 

2 

5 

9,000 

16,000 

200 

600 

Pennsylvania. 

20,000 

25,000 

50 

50 

25 

60,000 

120,000 

3,000 

5,500 

Mass.,  N.  York  and  Canada. 

61,000 

97,000 

300 

320 

350 

482,700 

602,400 

10,010 

21,500 

New  England. 

20,000 

40,000 

40 

20 

36 

2,500 

50,000 

200 

1,500 

New  York  and  Massachusetts. 

4,000 

10,600 

16 

75 

45 

4,000 

6,000 

800 

3,000 

tu.  -.  •  -ehusetts  and  Canada. 

10,000 

13,000 

68 

106 

122 

11,000 

32,000 

600 

1,300 

N< 

1,800 

10,050 

17 

3 

5 

2,000 

25,000 

30 

600 

„••  .liucl. 

10.000 

15,000 

62 

10 

2 

10,000 

50,000 

400 

1,         ie.  \r  England. 

4,000 

„      6,000 

40 

15 

12 

10,000 

30,000 

500 

1,000 

Ohio  and  Tennessee. 

3,000 

12,000 

7 

3 

1 

15,000 

30,000 

60 

400 

New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

5,000 
25,000 

20,000 
40,000 

106 
35 

25 

25 

3 
15 

20,000 
200,000 

50,000 
300,000 

200 
2,000 

1,500 
5,000 

N.England  and  Middle  States. 
New  York  and  Ohio. 

2,000 

2,600 

26 

1 

1 

20,000 

25,000 

21 

39 

Kentucky  and  Ohio. 

6,000 

13.500 

84 

50 

20 

100,000 

111,000 

100 

630 

Ohio. 

16,000 

20,000 

117 

125 

100 

340,500 

625,400 

4,000 

8,000 

Kentucky  and  New  York. 

20,000 

30,000 

41 

43 

35 

17,800 

250,000 

300 

17,500 

Ohio. 

15,000 
12,150 
60,000 

20,000 
30,130 
80,000 

78 
23 
20 

15 

8 
10 

18 
18 
12 

125,000 
75,000 
15,000 

600,000 
100,000 
100,000 

300 
600 
500 

1,500 
2,500 
2.000 

N.  Y.,  Penn.  and  Kentucky. 
Kentucky  and  Indiana. 
Ohio  and  Pennsylvania. 

20,000 

25,000 

27 

16 

3 

10,000 

50,000 

600 

1,300 

Virginia,  Kentucky  and  Ohio. 

30.000 

60,000 

18 

61 

40 

102,000 

160,000 

2.500 

7,500 

Kentucky. 

4,600 
9,000 
5,000 

8,000 
40,000 
21,000 

34 

20 
16 

30 
100 
20 

10 
50 
17 

18,500 
40,000 
10,000 

60,000 
100,000 
10,000 

250 
6,000 
700 

1,450 
10,000 
700 

Indiana  and  Germany. 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Germany. 
New  York  and  Pennsylvania. 

25,000 

30,000 

35 

20 

40 

60,000 

100,000 

26 

200 

Ohio  and  Indiana. 

15,000 

25,000 

15 

60 

75 

150,000 

225,000 

3,000 

5,500 

N.  Y.,  Kentucky  &  Tennessee. 

16,000 

22,400 

14 

17 

40 

20,000 

100,000 

480 

2,200 

Ind.,  Ky.,  N.  Y.  and  England. 

8,000 

15,000 

40 

24 

25 

10,000 

20,000 

1,000 

1,600 

Ohio  and  Tennessee. 

20,000 

25,000 

11 

8 

6 

40,000 

50,000 

3,200 

4,000 

Tennessee. 

300 

600 

37 

6 

8 

1,000 

3,000 

50 

400 

Ohio. 

15,000 

25,000 

29 

25 

38 

250,000 

300,000 

2,500 

3,000 

Ky.,  Tennessee  and  Vermont. 

6.650 
50,000 

8,000 
50,000 

90 
50 

25 
100 

60 
100 

1  040,000 
200,000 

1,680,000 
350,000 

20,000 
3,000 

30,000 
5,000 

New  England. 
Tenn.,  N.  Y  and  N.  England. 

10,000 

12,000 

50 

60 

60 

300,000 

450,000 

10,000 

16,000 

Eastern  States. 

5,000 

8,000 

88 

17 

12 

£0,000 

100,000 

2,000 

2,300 

Tennessee. 

18,000 

20,000 

31 

60 

50 

100,000 

125,000 

6,800 

9,000 

Ohio  and  Tennessee. 

5,200 

6,560 

18 

39 

43 

27,000 

84,000 

252 

548 

Tenn.,  Virginia  &  N.  Carolina. 

14,400 
10,000 
10,000 

15,900 
12,000 
14,000 

12 
142 
30 

10 
200 
68 

12 

250 
100 

400,000 
75,000 
200,000 

500,000 
100,000 
.    600,000 

6,860 
500 
4,000 

10,000 
1,000 
9,000 

N.York,  S.  Carolina  and  Tenn. 
Penn.,  Ky.  and  No.  Illinois. 
N.  Y.,No.  111.  and  So.  States 

6,000 

7,000 

10 

20 

30 

60,000 

130,000 

2,000 

3,500 

Kentucky. 

15,000 

20,000 

47 

50 

121 

40,000 

82,000 

1,200 

2,300 

N.C.,Tenn.,N.Y.,Wis.&  N.I11. 

26,000 

31,000 

118 

24 

17 

65,000 

300,000 

1,700 

3,000 

Tennessee.                                  i 

12.000 

15,000 

26 

20 

20 

80,000 

120,000 

1,000 

1,200 

North  Carolina.                         4 

2,500 
2,000 

3,000 
4,000 

49 
52 

25 
2 

12 
5 

45,000 
200 

60,000 
3,000 

1,800 
100 

2,000 
325 

North  Carolina. 
Penn.,  Maine  and  New  York. 

5,000 

6,000 

15 

11 

15 

45,000 

55,400 

5,200 

6,000 

Vermont,  N.Y.  and  So.  jtateg. 

6,000 

7,000 

18 

6 

9 

140,000 

160,000 

750 

900 

New  England. 
Ireland. 

1,300 

5,200 

1-3  Irish,  1-3  German,  and  bal- 

ance from  all  parts  of  TJ.  S. 

692,200  1,052,940 

$5,223,200 

$9,066,200 

Galena  shipped  in  1856,  190,770  pigs  Lead,  valued  at  $802,954.  In  1858,  265,924  pigs, 
valued  at  $1,115,200. 

Stock  raising  is  rapidly  rising  in  value  and  importance,  and  the  attention  of  farmers 
is  becoming  very  generally  directed  to  it. 

About  19,000,000  of  acres  are  embraced  in  the  territories  given  in  the  returns,  though 
a  portion  of  the  traffic  arising  from  the  cultivation,  is  directed  to  the  East  and  West 
Kailrnads  which  cross  the  Illinois  Central, 


GO 

ABSTRACT  OF  TITLE  TO  THE 

Illinois  Central  Railroad  Lands. 

-  The  lands  offered  for  sale  by  the  Illinois  Central  Kailroad  Company  were  granted  by 
the  United  States  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  by  the  Act  of  20th  September,  1850.  All  the 
conditions  stipulated  in  that  Act  have  been  fulfilled,  and  the  title  to  these  lands  can  no 
longer  be  affected  by  legislation. 

By  the  Act  of  10th  February,  1851,  the  State  of  Illinois  incorporated  this  Company, 
and  directed  the  Governor  to  convey  to  said  Company,  by  a  deed  in  fee  simple,  all  of 
said  lands,  etc.,  which  was  done. 

The  said  Act  further  required  said  Company  to  execute  a  Deed  of  Trust  of  all  said 
lands,  etc.,  to  certain  persons  named  therein  by  the  State,  to  secure  the  performance 
of  the  conditions  and  stipulations  required  thereby.  The  bonds  issued«under  this  trust 
are  being  paid  as  fast  as  the  money  is  received  from  the  sale  of  the  lands  set  apart  for 
that  purpose.  All  bonds,  purchased  with  the  proceeds  of  such  lands,  are  officially  can- 
celed by  the  Trustees. 

Where  payment  is  made  in  full,  the  purchaser  at  once  obtains  his  title  from  the 
Trustees  appointed  by  the  State.  If  the  sale  is  on  credit,  however,  the  title  is  not 
given  till  final  payment  is  made,  but  the  purchaser  receives  a  Contract,  stipulating  that 
such  title  will  be  given  on  full  payment,  and  compliance  with  the  conditions  specified 
therein.  The  moneys  received  for  the  sale  of  lands  are  applied  to  the  purchase  of  Bonds, 
and  the  particular  tract  is  at  once  exempted  from  liability,  and  a  perfect  title  given  by 
the  Trustees — being  in  fact,  the  Jirst  conveyance  under  the  autJiority  of  the  General  Gov- 
ernment. 

The  sales  are  made  under  the  sanction  of  the  Trustees,  and  are  authorized  by  an  Act 
of  the  State  Legislature.  The  lands  thus  sold  are  exempted  from  taxation  by  said 
law  of  the  State  till  finally  paid  for. 

The  Trustees  execute  Deeds  for  all  lands  sold ;  and  the  conveyance  by  said  Trustees, 
in  the  terms  of  the  law,  is  "  an  absolute  title  in  fee  simple,"  and  operates  -"  as  a  release 
or  an  acquittance  of  the  particular  tract  or  tracts  so  sold  from  all  liability  or  encumbrance 
on  account  of  said  Deed  of  Trust,  and  the  issue  of  said  Bonds — so  as  to  vest  in  the  pur- 
chasers a  complete  and  indefeasible  title." 

Thus  it  is  seen  that  the  Act  of  Congress  making  the  grant  secures  the  title  in  pur- 
chasers, whatever  may  be  the  action  of  the  State ;  and  the  law  of  the  State  incorporat- 
ing this  Company,  while  amply  securing  the  Bondholders,  is  alike  careful  to  protect 
purchasers  of  the  lands,  and  to  secure  to  them  perfect  and  complete  titles  in  any  and 
every  contingency. 

No  assignment  by  this  Company  can,  in  the  slightest  degree,  affect  the  titles  of  those" 
who  have  purchased  or  may  purchase  any  of  these  lands,  as  the  titles  to  the  whole  of 
them  are  in  the  Trustees  appointed  by  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  incorporating  this 
Company,  whose  duties  are  specifically  designated,  and  the  objects  of  the  Trust  fully 
and  clearly  set  forth  tn  that  Act ;  and,  as  all  subsequent  transactions  have  been  had 
with  full  notice  that  these  lands  were  thus  dedicated,  none  of  those  subsequent  transac- 
tions can  interfere  with  that  dedication. 

JOHN  MOORE,  |    ™ 

SAMUEL  D.  LOCKWOOD, } 

March  1,  1859. 


Great  Central  and  Southern  Mail  and  Passenger  Route, 


TWO  DAILY  PASSENGER  TRAINS 

Leave  Chicago,  the  Northeastern  Terminus;   Dunleith,  the 
Northwestern  Terminus;   and  Cairo,  the  Southern  Ter- 
minus of  the  road,  making  connections  as  follows : 

AT  CAIRO;— With  the  Mobile  &  Ohio  Railroad,  to  and  from  Columbus,  Trenton, 

Jackson,  Memphis,  Grand  Junction,  Holly  Springs,  Oxford,   Grenada,  Canton, 

Jackson,  Miss.,  Vicksburg,  Natchez,  New  Orleans,  Galveston  and  Mobile. 
AT  CAIRO ;— With  the  Cairo  £  New  Orleans  Railroad  Line  of  Steamers,  to  ami 

from  all  points  on  the  Lower  Mississippi  river. 
AT  SANDOVAL  AND  ODIN;— With  the  Ohio  &  Mississippi  Railroad  to  and  from 

St.  Louis,  Louisville  and  Cincinnati. 
AT  MATTOON  AND  TANA;— With  the  Terre  Haute,  Alton  &  St.  Louis  Railroad, 

to  and  from  Alton,  St    Louis,  St.  Joseph,  Terre  Haute,  Indianapolis,  Wheeling, 

Baltimore  and  Philadelphia. 
AT  TOLONO  AND  DECATUR;— With  the  Great   Western  Illinois  Railroad,  to 

and  from  Springfield,  Jacksonville,  Naples,  Quincy,  St.  Joseph  and  Toledo. 
AT  GILM AN  AND  EL  PASO ;— With  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  Railroad,  to  and 

from  Peoria,  Galesburg,  Burlington,  Quincy  and  Logansport. 
AT  CHICAGO;— With  the  Michigan  Central,  Michigan  Southern,  and  Pittsburg, 

Fort  Wayne  &  Chicago  Railroads,  to  and  from  Detroit,  Cleveland,  Buffalo,  Niagara 

Falls,  Albany,  New  York,  Boston,  Montreal,  Quebec,  Portland,  and  all  eastern 

cities;  also  with  Railroads  and  Steamboats  to  and  from  Milwaukee,  Janesville, 

Madison,  &c. 
AT  LA  SALLE;— With  the  Chicago  &  Rock  Island  Railroad,  to  and  from  Rock 

Island,  Muscatine  and  Iowa  City. 
AT  MENDOTA;— With  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad,  to  and  from 

Chicago,  Galesburg,  Burlington,  Quincy  and  St.  Joseph. 

AT  DIXON;— With  the  Dixon  Air-Line  Railroad,  to  and  from  Chicago  and  Fulton. 
AT  FREEPORT;— With  the  Galena  &  Chicago  Union,  and  Racine  &  Mississippi 

Railroads,  to  and  from  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  Janesvi'.le,  Bcloit  and  Madison. 
AT  WARREN;— With  the  Mineral  Point  Railroad,  to  and  from  Darlington  and  Min- 
eral Point. 
AT  DUNLEITH;— With  the  Dunleith  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  Line  of  Steamers,  to  and 

from  Prairie  Du   Chien,  La  Crosse,  Winona,  Prescott,  Stillwater,  Hastings,  ami 

St,  Paul. 
AT  DUBUQUE ;— With  the  Dubuq'ue  &  Pacific  Railroad,  to  and   from  Nottingham, 

Manchester,  Cedar  Falls,  and  all  parts  of  Central  Iowa. 


rimoclions  Sleeping  Curs  are   attacliod.  to  all  nialit  train*^" 

/  Luggage  checked  to  all  important  points. 

THROtTfiH   TICKETS   KOK   SAT.K   AT    ATX  KAIL.ROAT)    OFFICKS. 

W.  P.  JOHNSON,  Gel.  Pass.  Agt.,     j        (  W.  B.  ABTHUR,  Gen.  Supt., 

'   Oliioa"O.  '  I  C/liion.jfo. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBAN* 

917.73IL61G  C001 

A  GUIDE  TO  THE  ILLINOIS  CENTRAL  RAILROAD 


30112025262301 


